context: As noted earlier, the defendant argues that the plaintiff did not engage in protected conduct by threatening to file a grievance, but agrees that "[a]n inmate has an undisputed First Amendment right to file grievances against prison officials on his own behalf." Nonetheless, the defendant is correct that neither the Sixth Circuit nor the Supreme Court has ad dressed explicitly whether threatening to file a grievance constitutes protected conduct.
citation_a.signal: but see
citation_a.identifier: 557 F.3d 541, 555
citation_a.parenthetical: suggesting without further explanation or citation that "it seems implausible that a threat to file a grievance would itself constitute a First Amendment-protected grievance"
citation_a.sentence: But see Bridges v. Gilbert, 557 F.3d 541, 555 (7th Cir.2009) (suggesting without further explanation or citation that “it seems implausible that a threat to file a grievance would itself constitute a First Amendment-protected grievance”).
citation_b.signal: see
citation_b.parenthetical: holding that a prisoner did not engage in protected conduct when he threatened to file a frivolous grievance
citation_b.sentence: See Harbin-Bey v. Rutter, 420 F.3d 571, 579 (6th Cir.2005) (finding against the plaintiff who claimed his protected conduct was threatening to file a lawsuit because he had not shown that a prisoner of ordinary firmness would be deterred); Scott v. Kilchermann, 230 F.3d 1359, 2000 WL 1434456, at *2 (6th Cir. Sep. 18, 2000) (holding that a prisoner did not engage in protected conduct when he threatened to file a frivolous grievance).