TTC 'Leprechaun' spurs outrage, legal questions

A nasty confrontation between two Toronto buspassengers and the viral video it spawned is raising questions about shaming on social media.

A ride on a crowded 72 Pape bus turned ugly for Brenda Davie of Toronto when an unidentified man since dubbed the Leprechaun for his green attire and bowler hat refused to move his bag so she could sit down.

Davie, describing the incident on Facebook, claimed the man called her an airhead and, as things escalated, stomped on her foot. She also claims he pushed her backwards into a pile of people.

A video shot by another passenger captured part of the confrontation, but not the alleged assault.

I'm glad your bag is comfortable, Davie says at one point.

The man, waving his hand dismissively, responds La la, you get nothing. Pay attention.

Legal issues

Davie's post was viewed thousands of times in just a few hours, prompting many to respond with outrage. Some have taken up a search to try to identify the man, and someone created a mock Twitter account @TTCLeprechaun.

ButJulia Lefebvre, a lawyer who specializes in social media, said the reaction raises certain legal issues.

"It's one thing to post a picture on social media," she said. "Clearly it's documenting what happened as far as we know it's not an altered picture but it's another thing to post comments that go with it. Are you opening yourself up to a defamation action? Potentially."

The man "clearly is being vilified in the media for this," Lefebvre said.

A number of social media sites and hashtagscall out bad behaviour on public transit, including two Tumblr blogs aimed at men who sprawl across seats and the hashtag #subwayshaming.

The TTC said it has been unable to find security footage of the incident, though spokesman Brad Ross condemned the mans behaviour.

"Bags do not belong on seats. Seats are for people. Bags don't pay fares, people do," Ross said.