by federal law, (2) by a person acting under the color of state law. Flagg Bros. v. Brooks, 436 U.S. 149, 155-57, 98 S.Ct. 1729, 56 L.Ed.2d 185 (1978); Fritz v. Charter Twp. of Comstock, 592 F.3d 718, 722 (6th Cir.2010). Defendants do not dispute that they are state actors. We therefore turn to the alleged deprivations of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.
To prove retaliation for exercise of First Amendment rights, the plaintiff must show that (1) he engaged in protected conduct; (2) an adverse action was taken against him that would deter a person of ordinary firmness from continuing to engage in that conduct; and (8) the adverse action was motivated at least in party by the plaintiffs protected conduct. Fritz, 592 F.3d at 723 (citing inter alia Thaddeus-X v. Blatter, 175 F.3d 378, 394 (6th Cir.1999) (en banc)). Once the plaintiff raises an inference of discriminatory animus, the burden shifts to the defendant to demonstrate that it would have taken the same action anyway. Arnett v. Myers, 281 F.3d 552, 561 (6th Cir.2002) (citing Thaddeus-X, 175 F.3d at 399).
1. Protected Conduct
It is not disputed that Plaintiffs’ public comments at Township Board meetings are protected conduct under the First Amendment. See Fritz, 592 F.3d at 723. The filing of a lawsuit to redress grievances is also clearly protected activity under the First Amendment. Eckerman v. Tenn. Dep’t of Safety, 636 F.3d 202, 208 (6th Cir.2010). Defendants do not dispute this element either.
2. Adverse Actions4
We now address the following acts of alleged retaliation presented by Plaintiffs on appeal.
a. Publicizing Damaging Information
Plaintiffs contend that Defendants publicized facts in the Letter of Understanding the Township entered into with the Yorks that damaged Plaintiffs’ reputation. Specifically, Plaintiffs complain that the Township’s letter cited Plaintiffs as the cause for the Township’s actions, despite the fact that other residents also complained. They claim that, as a result, the Yorks sued them, causing them to incur significant legal expenses.
This claim is without merit. Guindon admits that he made his complaints about the Yorks a matter of public record. Furthermore, the suit filed by the Yorks was unrelated to Plaintiffs’ comments and complaints at Township Board meetings. Instead, the Yorks sued Plaintiffs for stalking, infliction of emotional distress, interfering with their business relationships, and for making false statements to unnamed government agencies. R. 41-4. The matter was settled by the parties. R. 41-5.
b. Limiting Right to Speak at Public Meetings
The district court did not specifically address this claim. Nevertheless, the record reflects that the Township did not violate Plaintiffs’ constitutional right to speak at public meetings. The Township minutes reflect that Vern Guindon was a frequent guest and speaker at the Township Board meetings and the Planning Commission meetings. R. 32-17. To the extent Guindon was limited to speaking through his attorney regarding the Hiteshews, even assuming any constitutional er
4
Alleged instances of retaliatory actions by Defendants are scattered across Plaintiffs' brief. We address only those properly raised with supporting argument, found in pages 22-32 of Plaintiffs' brief, and not barred by absolute immunity.