Abraham T. Yang, Petitioner, v. James Rowland, Ed Veit, L.e. Debord, Estelle Wayne, et Al,respondents, 891 F.2d 297 (9th Cir. 1989)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Yang brought an action against prison officials seeking damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, for allegedly misconstruing California statutes so as to lengthen his term of imprisonment prior to obtaining parole. A magistrate dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. Yang did not amend the complaint, but pursued his action before the district court. The district court dismissed Yang's action for lack of jurisdiction.

We recently held that whenever a state prisoner's claim to relief "requires as its predicate a determination that a sentence currently served is invalid or unconstitutionally long [,]" habeas corpus relief must be the exclusive federal remedy. Young v. Kennedy, slip op. 12605, 12608 (9th Cir.Oct. 11, 1989). Yang's relief must therefore take the form of a habeas corpus petition. Since Yang has not advanced his statutory theory in the state courts, he cannot seek federal habeas relief at this time.

Because exhaustion or remedies is a lengthy process, Yang may not be able to complete exhaustion before the limitations period expires on his section 1983 claim. Accordingly, federal proceedings on his section 1983 claim must be stayed until Yang exhausts his state remedies. See Young at 12612.

The district court's order dismissing Yang's complaint under section 1983 is vacated. Upon remand, the district court is directed to enter an order staying further proceedings on the section 1983 action until Yang has an opportunity to exhaust his state remedies.

VACATED AND REMANDED.