Emily Willis wins $3 million payout after being left ‘permanently disabled’

The 27-year-old's life was 'forever changed' by the incident, her lawyer said

Former adult actress Emily Willis has been awarded a $3 million payout by a Los Angeles judge due to the alleged 'irreversible brain damage' she suffered.

The 27-year-old was the victim of a 'horrendous breakdown in clinical care' while attending the Summit Malibu rehab facility, a lawsuit filed by her loved ones in December 2024 claimed.

Those closest to her alleged that her 'health was ignored until it was too late', causing her life to change 'forever'. After more than a year of court showdowns, an agreement has now finally been reached.

However, the lawyer representing her said the case 'was no slam dunk'.

Willis – real name Litzy Lara Banuelos – was allegedly left permanently disabled after she suffered a serious cardiac arrest at the Summit Malibu rehab facility.

According to court documents, Willis’ health deteriorated during her stay and she allegedly experienced symptoms such as dehydration, infection, and severe physical distress that were not properly addressed by staff.

She had sought assistance from the clinic to overcome her reliance upon ketamine, as she was consuming 'five to six grams' of it a day.

On 4 February, 2024, Willis was found unconscious at the facility and it took 30 to 40 minutes of CPR before a pulse returned.

The prolonged lack of oxygen allegedly caused irreversible brain damage, leaving Willis with severe paralysis and long-term disability.

Following the incident, Willis' mum Yesenia Lara Cooper filed a lawsuit against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, in December 2024.

Summit Malibu's lawyers previously claimed in court docs that Willis 'had refused to follow medical recommendations and take her medications'.

They said Willis declined the staff’s recommendation that she be transported to a hospital prior to suffering the heart attack, claiming: "She refused to go to urgent care or the hospital voluntarily, despite being encouraged to do so."

The rehab facility denied any wrongdoing.

Speaking in the wake of the settlement being reached, attorney James A Morris Jr said in a court declaration: "Having lived and breathed this case for nearly two years, I can state with confidence that Ms. Banuelos is significantly injured, but that this case was no slam dunk."

The $3 million settlement was approved by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason on Willis' behalf due to her current condition, the Independent reported.

Willis' attorneys reduced their requested legal fees from $1.2 million to $1 million prior to the agreement being reached.

The ex-adult star can no longer move her body and is still in a 'profoundly incapacitated state', according to her legal representative.

Court documents state that she sometimes grunts and occasionally opens her eyes, however, she is unable to respond consistently.

Willis' former partner, Mike Majlak, previously opened up about his ex-girlfriend being in 'a vegetative state' since the 2024 incident.

During an appearance on Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast in 2024, he said: "It's bad, actually. She was incredible.

"We had a really great friendship and relationship, but she had her own struggles, and she recently, while at rehab, fell into a coma, and she's been in a vegetative state."

Before the settlement was reached, Willis' lawyer said in an earlier statement: "Had the staff followed standard medical protocols, Emily would have had the opportunity to regain control of her life.

"No patient should ever be subjected to such a horrendous breakdown in clinical care. Her health was ignored until it was too late, and now her life is forever changed. We hope this lawsuit will spur real change in how treatment centres handle critical cases. Too many patients who should be receiving life-saving interventions are being lost to negligence."

Topics: Health, Emily Willis, Adult Industry, Celebrity

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

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