Two law students have won a precedent-setting ruling that will have an impact on prisoners' rights in nine western states, said Susan Christian, supervising attorney for the students at the UC Davis law school's Civil Rights Clinic. Prison inmates who file civil rights claims for monetary compensation may file their cases directly in federal court -- without having to go through a prison grievance process, under the ruling Wednesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The students, through the clinic, represented two state prisoners. This was the first time that the appeals court was asked to decide to what lengths state prisoners alleging civil rights violations must go -- in the prison system or state tort claim process -- before filing suit in federal court. The court ruled also that prisoners filing for injunctive relief or for monetary damages do not have to file a tort claim with the State Board of Control. The cases represent the court's interpretation of the 1996 Prison Litigation Reform Act, enacted by Congress to, among other things, require prisoners to exhaust all available administrative remedies before they can file suits in federal court. While the victories aren't the first time that UC Davis law students have prevailed in the 9th circuit, this is the first time that UC Davis student-led cases have set precedent in the 9th circuit court. Students Michelle Anderson and Courtenay Keough McKeon briefed and argued the two cases in mid-April. Media contacts: -- Susan Christian, law school, (530) 752-3091, sdchristian@ucdavis.edu -- Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu