Los Angeles judge approves $3M settlement for Emily Willis

A Los Angeles judge has approved a $3 million settlement for former adult film star Emily Willis, who suffered catastrophic and permanent brain damage while undergoing treatment at a California rehabilitation center in early 2024. The settlement, approved this week, resolves a lawsuit brought by her family against the Summit Malibu facility.

Willis, whose legal name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, was 27 years old at the time of the settlement. She checked into the Summit Malibu rehabilitation center on January 27, 2024, seeking treatment for addiction and related health issues. According to court documents, she had a history of severe ketamine use and was admitted while underweight and in a fragile state.

The medical crisis occurred on February 4, 2024, when Willis was found unresponsive in her room at the facility. Paramedics and nurses performed CPR for 30 to 40 minutes before her heartbeat returned. The prolonged period without oxygen caused an anoxic brain injury, leaving her with severe paralysis and long-term neurological damage. Her legal team stated her condition now resembles locked-in syndrome, a rare disorder where a patient is conscious but almost completely unable to move...