LADWP Boss Quits Job to Flee to Puerto Rico After Court Ruling

Janisse Quiñones steps down as CEO and chief engineer of Los Angeles utility amid liability concerns over Palisades Fire.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Just weeks after a Los Angeles judge ruled that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) could be held liable for the catastrophic water system failure and aging electrical infrastructure that fueled the Palisades Fire, the utility's CEO and chief engineer, Janisse Quiñones, is stepping down and announcing her return to her home island of Puerto Rico. Critics have called the timing 'suspicious' and labeled her sudden departure a 'dereliction of duty'.

Why it matters

The ruling against LADWP in the Palisades Fire case has raised serious questions about the utility's infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Quiñones' departure as the head of the department overseeing the city's electric grid and water supply comes at a critical juncture, leading some to speculate about her motivations and the potential impact on the ongoing legal battle.

The details

In a Feb. 19 ruling, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Samantha Jessner rejected LADWP's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by roughly 10,000 fire victims. The court allowed claims of inverse condemnation and dangerous condition of public property to proceed, specifically allegations tied to the 'inherently risky' design of the water supply system and the failure of 'antiquated' electrical infrastructure. The ruling highlighted claims that LADWP knowingly designed a water system that could fail if its primary reservoir was offline, which was the case at the time of the Palisades Fire.

  • On February 19, 2026, a Los Angeles judge ruled that LADWP could be held liable for the Palisades Fire.
  • On March 27, 2026, Janisse Quiñones will step down as CEO and chief engineer of LADWP.

The players

Janisse Quiñones

The CEO and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), who is stepping down from her $750,000-a-year post to return to her home island of Puerto Rico.

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles, who announced Quiñones' departure as part of a 'planned transition'.

Alex Robertson

The lawyer representing the roughly 10,000 fire victims in the lawsuit against LADWP, who has called Quiñones' sudden departure a 'dereliction of duty'.

Samantha Jessner

The Los Angeles Superior Court judge who rejected LADWP's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit filed by fire victims.

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What they’re saying

“Interesting development, coming on the heels of the judge in our case overruling LADWP's demurrer to our Master Complaint. I don't believe in coincidences.”

— Alex Robertson, Attorney representing fire victims (The California Post)

“The buck stops with her. She was chief engineer. The reservoirs should have been repaired in weeks, not months.”

— Alex Robertson, Attorney representing fire victims (The California Post)

“The optics don't look like a great setup.”

— Alex Robertson, Attorney representing fire victims (The California Post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow LADWP to appeal the ruling that allowed the lawsuit to move forward.

The takeaway

Quiñones' sudden departure as the head of LADWP raises serious questions about the utility's leadership and accountability in the wake of the Palisades Fire. The ongoing legal battle will likely shed more light on the role of the utility's infrastructure and emergency preparedness in the disaster.