Opinion ID: 589220
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Physical Threat Claim

Text: 15 McKinney contends that defendant Kuzirian threatened him with physical harm in retaliation for McKinney's past civil litigation against other prison officials. Even if McKinney's allegation were true, a mere threat of harm unaccompanied by any action is insufficient to state a constitutional violation under the eighth amendment or under the first amendment as a denial of access to the courts. See Oltarewski v. Ruggiero, 830 F.2d 136, 139 (9th Cir.1987); Gaunt v. Sunn, 810 F.2d 923, 925 (9th Cir.1987) (no eighth amendment claim where threat of force used to prevent inmate from exercising his right to access the courts).