Houston Pilots v. Galveston-Texas City Pilots et al

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Case 4:25-cv-01801 Document 83 Filed 02/04/26 in TXSD Page 1of2

United States District Court
Southem District of Texas

ENTERED
February 04, 2026
Nathan Ochsner, Clerk

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON DIVISION

HOUSTON PILOTS, §
§
Plaintiff, §
§

VS. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:25-CV-01801
§
GALVESTON-TEXAS CITY PILOTS, ef §
al., §
§
Defendants. §

ORDER

Before the Court are United States Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett’s Memorandum and
Order filed on November 6, 2025 (Doc. #55); Defendants’ Objections (Doc, #59); Plaintiff's
Response (Doc. #61); and Defendants’ Supplemental Objections (Doc. #74). The Magistrate
Judge’s findings and conclusions are reviewed de novo. FED. R. Cry. P. 72(b); 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1); United States v. Wilson, 864 F.2d 1219, 1221 (Sth Cir. 1989). Having reviewed the
parties’ arguments and applicable legal authority, the Court adopts the Memorandum and
Recommendation as its Order.

Therefore, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Doc. #22) is DENIED, Furthermore,
Plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction contained within its Verified First Amended Motion
for Temporary Restraining Order and Order to Show Cause Why Preliminary Injunction Should
Not Issue (Doc, #30) is GRANTED, Specificaliy, the Temporary Restraining Order (Doc. #41) is

DISSOLVED, and the Court ORDERS the following:

AUTHENTICATED
U.S. GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION

GPO

Case 4:25-cv-01801 Document 83 Filed 02/04/26 in TXSD Page 2 of 2

1. Defendants are ENJOINED from soliciting and/or contacting shipping agents, shipping
companies, and/or other maritime industry companies to use individual Galveston
Pilots to pilot any vessel intending to use the Anchorage as an intermediate stop enroute
to or from a Harris County port; |
2. Defendants are ENJOINED from performing pilot services, and/or dispatching
individual pilots to perform pilotage services, on board any vessel intending to use the
Anchorage as an intermediate stop enroute to or from a Harris County port; and

3. Defendants are ENJOINED from diverting from the over 80 year-old historical
procedure of the “Gentleman’s Agreement” of retroactively correcting pilotage fees for
the piloting of vessels to or from the Anchorage whose final destination has changed
after it has already anchored in the Anchorage.

Furthermore, Plaintiff is not required to post a bond and all other relief not specifically
granted is hereby DENIED. Finally, Plaintiff’s Motion to Consolidate (Doc. #23) and Motion for
Expedited Ruling (Doc. #75) are DENIED as MOOT,

It is so ORDERED, WW
2/4/

' t, ab The Honorabl¢ Alfred H. Bennett
United States District Judge

Date