Case Information
*1 Case 4:23-cv-00515-RGE-WPK Document 87 Filed 05/19/25 Page 1 of 2
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
CENTRAL DIVISION JANTZEN MASON, JEFFERY CARSTENSEN, CASSANDRA MARIE GIBSON, AMANDA
No. 4:23-cv-00515-RGE-WPK MCDONALD, and LILIANA ZAMBRANO, Plaintiffs, ORDER DENYING v. DEFENDANT’S APPEAL OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S ORDER IOWA STUDENT LOAN LIQUIDITY CORPORATION,
Defendant.
On March 26, 2025, the magistrate judge managing this case granted Plaintiffs Jantzen Mason,
Jeffery Carstensen, Cassandra Marie Gibson, Amanda McDonald, and Liliana Zambrano’s Motion for Leave to File Consolidated Class Action Complaint. Order Granting Pls.’ Mot. File Consolidated Class Action Compl., ECF No. 67. Defendant Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation appeals the decision. Def.’s Appeal Magistrate Judge’s Order, ECF No. 72. Plaintiffs resist. Pl.’s Resist. Def.’s Appeal Magistrate Judge’s Order, ECF No. 82. The Court denies Iowa Student Loan’s appeal.
“A district court may reconsider a magistrate judge’s ruling on nondispositive pretrial matters where it has been shown that the ruling is clearly erroneous or contrary to law.” Ferguson v. United States, 484 F.3d 1068, 1076 (8th Cir. 2007) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A)); accord Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) (“The district judge in the case must consider timely objections [to a magistrate judge’s order] and modify or set aside any part of the order that is clearly erroneous or is contrary to law.”) “A finding is clearly erroneous when although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Doyle v. Graske, 579 F.3d 898, 902–03 (8th Cir. 2009) (quoting McAllister v. United States, 348 U.S. 19, 20 (1954)). A magistrate judge’s order is “contrary to law” when it “fails to apply or misapplies relevant statutes, case law or rules of procedure.” In re Nat. Gas Commodities Litig., 235 F.R.D. 241, 244 (S.D.N.Y. 2006)
*2 Case 4:23-cv-00515-RGE-WPK Document 87 Filed 05/19/25 Page 2 of 2 (citation and internal quotations omitted). Upon review, a magistrate judge’s order on a nondispositive matter “enjoys substantial deference under any circumstances.” EFCO Corp. v. MIG Corp., No. 4:05- cv-00431-JEG, 2007 WL 4644706, at *18 (S.D. Iowa Dec. 12, 2007) (Gritzner, J.).
The Court finds the magistrate judge’s order neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law. Cf. Ferguson, 484 F.3d at 1076. The appeal is denied. IT IS ORDERED that Defendant Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation’s Appeal of Magistrate Judge’s Order, ECF No. 72, is DENIED . IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation’s alternative request for a stay is DENIED . IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall jointly contact the chambers of United States Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly to set a status conference in this matter. IT IS SO ORDERED . Dated this 19th day of May, 2025.
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