By Patricia Jones A California judge has approved a $3 million settlement in the rehabilitation-center lawsuit involving former adult performer Emily Willis, whose legal name is Litzy Lara Banuelos. The agreement resolves claims alleging that failures in her medical care at Summit Malibu contributed to a catastrophic brain injury that left her permanently incapacitated. The defendants denied negligence and did not admit liability as part of the settlement.
Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason approved the agreement in July 2026. Court approval was necessary because Banuelos is unable to manage her own financial and legal affairs due to the severity of her condition. Her mother and legal guardian, Yesenia Lara Cooper, participated in the lawsuit on her behalf.
How Much Was the Emily Willis Settlement?
The total settlement is $3 million. However, this does not mean that Banuelos will personally receive the full amount.
Reports based on the court filings indicate that approximately $1.25 million to $1.26 million is expected to remain for her benefit after attorneys’ fees, case expenses and medical or other liens are deducted. Her legal team reduced its requested attorneys’ fee from $1.2 million to $1 million before the judge approved the agreement.
The remaining funds are expected to contribute toward her continuing care and related needs. Her mother will reportedly continue serving as her conservator or legal guardian.
What Happened at Summit Malibu?
Banuelos entered Summit Malibu in January 2024 for treatment connected to severe ketamine use. According to the lawsuit, she was consuming approximately five to six grams of ketamine each day before entering treatment and was already physically vulnerable when she arrived.
The complaint alleged that her health deteriorated during her stay. Her family claimed that she became dehydrated, disoriented, physically weak and unable to walk, eat or care for herself properly. The lawsuit further alleged that the facility did not respond adequately to these warning signs or arrange appropriate outside medical treatment. These statements were allegations made by the plaintiffs and were disputed by the rehabilitation center.
On February 4, 2024, Banuelos was found unconscious in her room. A nurse began CPR, and emergency responders reportedly continued resuscitation efforts for approximately 30 to 40 minutes before restoring her heartbeat. The resulting lack of oxygen caused an anoxic brain injury, according to the family and its attorneys.
An anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. In this case, attorneys described the damage as irreversible and said Banuelos is unable to move her body, communicate consistently or manage her affairs. Reports based on court documents state that she may occasionally open her eyes or make sounds but remains profoundly incapacitated.
What Did the Lawsuit Allege?
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in December 2024 against Summit Malibu and its parent or operating entities, including Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers.
The claims reportedly included:
- Professional negligence
- General negligence
- Abuse or neglect of a dependent adult
- Abandonment and reckless failure to provide care
- Unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices
The family alleged that staff members failed to follow appropriate clinical procedures, failed to respond adequately to her worsening condition and left her without necessary medical attention until it was too late.
The complaint claimed that these failures directly contributed to her permanent physical and cognitive injuries, pain, emotional distress and need for lifelong assistance.
How Did Summit Malibu Respond?
Summit Malibu denied wrongdoing and disputed the allegations that its employees had been negligent.
According to descriptions of the defense filings, the facility argued that Banuelos had refused medications and recommendations to seek treatment at an urgent-care center or hospital. The defendants maintained that staff members monitored her condition but lacked the legal authority to force a competent adult to accept outside medical care against her wishes.
The defense also argued that there was no clear evidence proving that actions by the facility caused her medical emergency. The cause of her collapse was reportedly uncertain, and the plaintiffs’ own attorney acknowledged that the case involved substantial legal and medical challenges.
Attorney James A. Morris Jr. reportedly stated in a court declaration that the case was not a guaranteed victory because no one knew with certainty what triggered the medical crisis or whether different action by the facility would have prevented it. This uncertainty was one factor supporting the negotiated settlement rather than taking the dispute through a full trial.
Did the Rehab Center Admit Liability?
No. A settlement is not the same as a judgment following a trial.
The defendants continued to deny negligence and did not admit legal responsibility for Banuelos’s injuries. The $3 million agreement resolves the disputed civil claims without requiring a jury to decide whether the rehabilitation center breached its duty of care or caused the brain injury.
Companies and insurers may settle lawsuits for several reasons, including the uncertainty of trial, legal costs, expert-witness expenses and the possibility of a much larger judgment. A settlement alone does not prove that every allegation in the complaint was true.
Was This a Class Action Lawsuit?
No. The Emily Willis rehab lawsuit was an individual personal-injury and negligence case, not a class action.
The settlement applies to Banuelos and the claims brought on her behalf. It does not create a settlement fund for other patients who attended Summit Malibu or other rehabilitation centers.
Someone who believes they were injured through negligent rehabilitation care would need to establish their own medical evidence, legal claim and filing deadline.
Why Did a Judge Have to Approve the Settlement?
California courts generally review settlements involving people who are minors or lack the capacity to manage their legal and financial affairs.
Because Banuelos is permanently incapacitated, the judge examined the proposed settlement, legal fees and expected distribution before granting approval. This process is intended to protect the injured person and ensure that the settlement is handled for their benefit.
The court’s approval brought the civil case to an end before a planned trial. Banuelos is expected to continue requiring full-time assistance and long-term medical care following the February 2024 emergency.
The Emily Willis rehab lawsuit settlement is therefore a confirmed $3 million court-approved agreement, with approximately $1.25 million expected to remain for her benefit after fees, expenses and liens. The agreement resolves the lawsuit without an admission that Summit Malibu or Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers caused her injuries.