944 F. 2d 908 - Cutsinger v. Ducharme

MEMORANDUM*

Roger Lee Cutsinger appeals the dismissal of his habeas corpus petition. He argues that he is entitled to habeas corpus relief for an injury caused by the denial of adequate medical care in prison. We affirm.

A challenge to conditions of confinement should be presented in a section 1983 lawsuit rather than in a habeas corpus petition. Crawford v. Bell. 599 F.2d 890, 891-92 (9th Cir.1979). See also Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874, 875 (9th Cir.1989), cert. denied sub nom. Bressman v. Farrier, 111 S.Ct. 1090 (1991) (stating in dicta that section 1983 action is proper avenue of redress where prisoner wishes to challenge conditions of confinement). However, the Supreme Court has not foreclosed use of the habeas corpus writ to obtain review of conditions of confinement. See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 527 n. 6 (1979). When a pro se litigant labels a complaint seeking relief from prison conditions as a habeas corpus petition, the court treats the claim as a section 1983 action. Hansen v. May, 502 F.2d 728, 729-730 (9th Cir.1974).

We understand but reject Cutsinger's argument that he is entitled to bring a section 1983 action and a habeas corpus petition. Cutsinger makes the same claims and seeks the same relief in his habeas corpus petition as in his already pending section 1983 action. The section 1983 lawsuit is the proper vehicle for the claims. Dismissal of Cutsinger's habeas petition therefore was not error.

Because we affirm, we need not address Cutsinger's argument that he exhausted state remedies.

AFFIRMED.