How has the federal district court interpreted a civil rights complaint and a habeas corpus petition?

The district court construed Hearne's complaint as both a civil rights complaint and a habeas corpus petition and stayed the section 1983 action pending disposition of the habeas petition. See Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874, 876-78 (9th Cir.1990) (because writ of habeas corpus is exclusive federal remedy for challenging length of state prison sentence, section 1983 action seeking damages based on length of sentence must be stayed pending disposition of habeas proceedings), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 1090 (1991). On June 12, 1991, the district court denied the habeas petition. It dismissed the section 1983 action on July 11, 1991, and Hearne filed a timely notice of appeal from the dismissal on August 2, 1991.