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Published 10:23 30 Jul 2026 GMT
Emily Willis' mother has provided a positive update on her daughter's health following a $3 million settlement.
The adult star has been left with life-changing brain damage following a medical emergency at a rehab center.
Her family settled with the Malibu rehab facility where she suffered catastrophic brain damage, which left Willis disabled and paralyzed due to oxygen deprivation.
Willis had suffered an anoxic brain injury, with court filings detailing that the 27-year-old can no longer move her body, and only occasionally opens her eyes or grunts, and can not consistently respond to those around her.
Prior to her cardiac arrest and 30-40 minutes without oxygen, Willis was one of the biggest stars in the adult industry, even winning Performer of the Year at the 2021 AVN Awards.
Now, her mom has provided a positive update.
Willis' mother, Yesenia Cooper, told TMZ that her daughter is non-verbal, but she can now communicate with her eyes and by shaking her head, understanding about 80% of what is going on.
Her steady recovery signals an improvement, as her mom says that she is getting better each day, fighting to live the best possible life.
Cooper had sued Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Center in 2024, claiming that the facility didn't properly care for Willis when she was being treated earlier that year.
Despite reaching a $3 million settlement, the defendants continued to deny wrongdoing and did not admit liability.
The publication reported that the adult actress is learning to walk again and needs help being fed, but she is now able to sleep on her own.
Willis also manages to watch movies and TV shows she enjoys, after undergoing more than 10 surgeries.
She is now in Mexico with the best therapists, with the family aiming to secure a transfer to Spain so she can undergo new neurological brain-related procedures.
This will help to stimulate the systems that control speech, communication, and movement.
As previously reported, the 27-year-old's family brought the case against Summit Malibu rehabilitation center after she was found unconscious.
Willis suffered a cardiac arrest and "irreversible brain damage" in the 2024 incident, leaving her "permanently disabled".
She first checked into the center for treatment in relation to anorexia, weighing just 100 pounds at the time.
Her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr, said that she had not sought help from the treatment center for ketamine use, as she had stopped using the drug before entering the facility.
But by February 2024, Willis was found unresponsive in the facility, with a lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Cooper.
She stated that a nurse had performed CPR on her for three minutes until paramedics arrived, and they were able to get a pulse after 30-40 minutes.
Morris said that Willis likely has "locked-in syndrome," meaning she can not move or communicate but remains mentally aware.
The settlement was approved by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason resolving the claim brought by Willis's mother, with judicial approval required due to Willis's condition, per the Independent.
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Published 10:35 20 Jul 2026 GMT
Former adult film star Emily Willis once spoke optimistically about her future, shortly before she she was left with life-changing brain injuries.
The 27-year-old has since been awarded a $3 million settlement after sustaining an anoxic brain injury following a cardiac arrest while receiving treatment at Summit Malibu rehabilitation center in February 2024.
Willis had entered the facility seeking treatment for anorexia. According to her lawyer, James A. Morris Jr., she had stopped using ketamine before being admitted and was not receiving treatment for substance abuse.
She was later found unresponsive, with court documents stating that staff performed CPR before paramedics restored her pulse after approximately 30 to 40 minutes, but being starved of oxygen meant that she was left with permanent brain damage.
According to court filings, Willis is now unable to move her body, can only occasionally open her eyes or grunt, and cannot consistently communicate with those around her.
The former adult star’s lawyer has said she likely has locked-in syndrome, a condition in which a person may remain mentally aware but is unable to move or speak.
Her mother, Yesenia Cooper, sued Summit Malibu, alleging negligence, abandonment and recklessness led to her daughter's permanent injuries.
The rehabilitation center denied any wrongdoing, arguing Willis had repeatedly declined medical advice and that staff had no legal authority to force her to seek outside treatment.
The case has since been settled for $3 million after a judge determined Willis is no longer capable of managing her own affairs.
Before her life changed dramatically, Willis appeared in a rare interview where she spoke enthusiastically about the future she hoped to build.
Asked what she would do if money were no object, Willis said that she wanted to invest her earnings and settle somewhere warm.
She explained that she would "invest, buy a house somewhere tropical, move, buy property", adding that she could imagine herself living in "Greece or the Bahamas."
She also revealed she hoped to reconnect with her Hispanic roots by becoming more fluent in Spanish.
Willis admitted: "I want to get better at Spanish," explaining that she no longer felt as confident speaking the language as she once had and wished she had more opportunities to practise.
Travel was another major goal, as she reflected on working abroad, saying that she hoped to return to the Spanish island of Ibiza after filming there earlier in her career.
Elsewhere in the interview, Willis shared another personal ambition outside the entertainment industry.
She said she "really wants to learn how to snowboard", adding that she hoped to become skilled enough to enjoy the sport regularly.
The interview has since resurfaced, and now serves as a poignant reminder of the future Willis had envisioned before the medical emergency that changed her life forever.
Published 11:21 17 Mar 2026 GMT
The family of adult star Emily Willis is reportedly close to reaching a settlement with the Malibu rehabilitation center where she was found unconscious, suffering a heart attack and "irreversible brain damage".
Willis, 27, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelo, was left "permanently disabled" after suffering a cardiac arrest while at a rehabilitation center in 2024.
She had checked into Summit Malibu seeking treatment for anorexia and weighing 100 pounds, with her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr, clarifying that she had not sought help from the treatment center for ketamine use as she had stopped using the drug prior to entering the facility.
Willis was found unresponsive in the facility in February 2024, with a lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Cooper, stating that a nurse had performed CPR on her for three minutes until paramedics arrived, and they were able to get a pulse after 30-40 minutes.
How long Willis had been unconscious before she was found was not stated, with Morris adding that Willis had suffered an anoxic brain injury, which led to her being left disabled and paralyzed due to oxygen deprivation.
According to reports, Willis had been experiencing hot and cold chills, tremors, increased heart rate, headaches, and difficulty walking before she was found unconscious in her room.
Cooper filed a lawsuit against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, in December 2024, accusing them of "abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence and fraudulent business practices."
According to court papers, Cooper's lawyers argued that Willis' "irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental incapacity, pain, suffering and emotional distress" was caused "as a direct and proximate result of (Summit Malibu’s) neglect, abandonment, recklessness and negligence in failing to provide care and treatment for Willis."
MyNewsLA.com reports that Cooper has reached a tentative settlement with Summit Malibu, and while the terms of the agreement haven't been shared, the outlet states that "Summit Malibu’s attorneys filed court papers on 24 February with Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Mark A. Young notifying him of a 'conditional' accord in the case brought by Yesenia Lara Cooper, along with the expectation a request for dismissal will be filed by 1 September."
It comes after Summit Malibu's lawyers claimed in previous court papers that Willis "had refused to follow medical recommendations and take her medications," claiming that staff had recommended Willis be taken to hospital, but claimed she'd declined to go.
They alleged: "She refused to go to urgent care or the hospital voluntarily, despite being encouraged to do so by (Summit Malibu)."
Willis's lawyer had shared an update on her condition last year, telling The Mirror US: "She remains bedridden due to her neurological injuries."
He confirmed that while Willis - who is being cared for by her mother in Utah - has been left unable to speak, she is able to make noises and can "move her body somewhat".
Morris further disclosed: "Trial is set to take place in Santa Monica on May 6, 2026. We have additional hearings in February."
Morris also previously told PornCrush: "She was in the danger zone the moment she walked through the doors.
"She needed very, very intense medical treatment. They didn’t diagnose that upon entry, nor did they monitor carefully enough how quickly she was digressing."
Published 12:03 03 Feb 2026 GMT
Former adult entertainer Emily Willis, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelo, remains permanently disabled following a cardiac arrest while at a rehabilitation center in 2024.
At 26 years old, Willis has been left in a state that has drastically altered her life.
Her mother, Yesenia Cooper, has filed a lawsuit against the rehab facility, Summit Malibu, as well as its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accuses the facility of "abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence, and fraudulent business practices."
James A. Morris, Jr., the legal representative for Emily and her mother, has shed new light on Willis' condition amidst the ongoing legal battle.
Speaking to The Mirror US, Morris shared that the 26-year-old is currently confined to bed due to neurological injuries sustained during the medical incident. "She remains bedridden due to her neurological injuries," Morris confirmed.
While Willis is unable to speak, she can still make noises and has some limited ability to move her body.
Morris explained: "She can move her body somewhat," offering a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming challenges she faces.
Willis is currently being cared for by her mother in Utah, as her health condition continues to be a central issue in the family's legal case.
The lawsuit is set to move forward with a trial scheduled for May 6, 2026, in Santa Monica.
Before the trial, additional hearings are set for February 2026.
The latest hearing took place on September 23, 2024, with a key event in February 2026 expected to focus on a "Hearing on Demurrer – with Motion to Strike."
This motion will allow the judge to review Summit Malibu's request to have the case dismissed, a motion they filed in late August 2024.
Summit Malibu, however, has denied the allegations of neglect.
They argue that Emily's mother failed to provide adequate details during a previous hearing in June 2024, particularly regarding the claims of elder or dependent abuse.
Furthermore, Summit Malibu contends that they lacked the authority to transfer Willis to a hospital without her consent, citing in their filing that Willis had refused to follow medical recommendations and take her prescribed medications.
Summit Malibu's response also stated that Willis had declined to seek urgent care or go to the hospital, despite being encouraged to do so by the facility.
Emily's legal team has claimed that Summit Malibu's actions were grossly negligent, particularly in failing to recognize the severity of Willis' condition when she first arrived at the facility.
In January 2024, Willis entered Summit Malibu seeking treatment for anorexia, weighing only 100 pounds. According to Morris, Emily had not sought help for ketamine use at the time, as she had stopped using the drug prior to her admission.
Morris claims that the facility failed to address Willis' deteriorating health and should have transferred her to a hospital sooner.
"They should've transferred her to a hospital earlier and let the doctors put a feeding tube in her and treat her properly while she was still (coherent) and speaking and walking," he said.
"Instead, they allowed her to have a say in her medical treatment, which is not what you do with somebody who is in severe health danger. She was in a very brittle place."
The situation took a tragic turn in February 2024 when Emily Willis was found unresponsive at the facility.
According to the lawsuit, a nurse performed CPR on her for three minutes before paramedics arrived. After a prolonged attempt to revive her, which lasted 30-40 minutes, paramedics were able to restore her pulse.
Though the exact time Willis had been unconscious before being discovered remains unclear, it is known that she suffered an anoxic brain injury, a condition caused by oxygen deprivation, which has led to her current paralysis and permanent disability.
In 2025, Morris revealed that doctors were concerned that Willis might be suffering from locked-in syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that leaves patients conscious but almost completely paralyzed, with only eye movements being possible.
While Willis has not yet received a formal diagnosis, Morris confirmed that locked-in syndrome is being considered as a potential condition. He added that doctors were awaiting further medical records and a review of her condition by the neurologist in charge.
Published 12:28 20 Jun 2025 GMT
The mother of adult star Emily Willis has 30 days to meet a deadline, or the court case surrounding her condition could fall apart.
Willis, real name Litzy Lara Banuelos, was plunged into a life-altering health crisis after suffering cardiac arrest at Summit Malibu.
Now 26, the former adult film star is reportedly in a vegetative state - or possibly living with locked-in syndrome.
Willis had checked into Summit Malibu on January 27, 2024, to treat a ketamine addiction, after consuming five to six grams daily and already facing severe side effects including urinary incontinence, night terrors, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.
Court records allege she quickly showed signs of decline: becoming “disheveled, frail, and disoriented; barely eating, not showering or dressed; suffered aches, tremors, spasms, weakness, appeared to be in pain, and experienced vaginal pain.”
A nurse reportedly could not measure her blood pressure due to dehydration.
On February 4, a nurse practitioner discovered Willis unconscious; paramedics performed CPR for 30 to 40 minutes, restoring her heartbeat but at the cost of irreversible brain damage.
Loved ones describe her as permanently disabled - unable to speak or move, but conscious and able to track with her eyes.
Her family filed a suit against Summit Malibu and its parent, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, accusing the center of elder/dependent adult abuse, professional negligence, fraudulent business practices, and more, per the Daily Mail.
They allege staff ignored her deteriorating health until it was “too late,” imposing her “irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental incapacity, pain, suffering and emotional distress”.
A lawyer for the family, James A. Morris Jr., explained in court that staff left critical decisions - like going to urgent care - to someone in excruciating pain and incapable of self-care.
Under the current legal pressure, Summit Malibu attorneys filed a motion to strike key allegations, claiming the plaintiff failed to show the center met any “basic needs” duty while Willis (at the time) wasn’t clearly a “dependent adult.”
Santa Monica Judge Mark A. Young has allowed 30 days for Emily’s mother, Yesenia Cooper, to produce additional facts substantiating the elder/dependent abuse claim, without which that part of the case could collapse, per the Daily Star.
In the months since, the family reports small but crucial progress. Though locked-in syndrome remains incurable, Willis now “can move her body somewhat” and “make outward noises.”
She was recently moved from the rehab facility into her mother’s home, where Cooper continues to care for her with intermittent hospital visits.
While she may track objects with her eyes and possibly understand her surroundings, her comprehension remains uncertain.
Still, the legal fight continues.
A court filing stated: “Had the staff followed standard medical protocols, Emily would have had the opportunity to regain control of her life… Her health was ignored until it was too late, and now her life is forever changed.”
Meanwhile, Summit Malibu maintains the dependent-abuse claim is legally insufficient and seeks to dismiss it unless more evidence is provided.
The next 30 days will be pivotal: if Cooper fails to detail exactly how the facility breached its duty of care to a clearly dependent resident, the elder/dependent abuse portion of the lawsuit may be struck, and the family’s efforts to hold Summit accountable significantly weakened.
Published 14:43 17 Jul 2026 GMT
Former adult star Emily Willis has been awarded a $3 million settlement after being left with life-changing brain damage following a medical emergency at a rehab center.
As previously reported, the 27-year-old's family brought the case against Summit Malibu rehabilitation center after she was found unconscious, suffering a cardiac arrest and "irreversible brain damage" in the 2024 incident, leaving her "permanently disabled".
She had checked into the center seeking treatment for anorexia and weighing 100 pounds, with her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr, clarifying that she had not sought help from the treatment center for ketamine use as she had stopped using the drug prior to entering the facility.
Willis was found unresponsive in the facility in February 2024, with a lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Cooper, stating that a nurse had performed CPR on her for three minutes until paramedics arrived, and they were able to get a pulse after 30-40 minutes.
How long Willis had been unconscious before she was found was not stated, with Morris adding that Willis had suffered an anoxic brain injury, which led to her being left disabled and paralyzed due to oxygen deprivation.
Now, the case has reportedly reached a settlement with a Los Angeles judge finding that Willis is "no longer capable of managing her own affairs", per the Daily Star.
According to court filings, the former adult entertainer can no longer move her body, and only occasionally opens her eyes or grunts, and can not consistently respond to those around her.
Morris told the outlet that Willis likely has "locked in syndrome", meaning she can not move or communicate but remains mentally aware.
The settlement was approved by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason resolving the claim brought by Willis's mother, with judicial approval required due to Willis's condition, per the Independent.
The case was finalized after Willis's legal team reduced their requested attorney fees from $1.2million to $1million.
Morris 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."
He added that the cause of Willis's medical crisis remains unknown, as well as wether Summit Malibu could have prevented her injuries, describing her condition as "fragile" when she entered the treatment facility.
The lawsuit had alleged that Summit Malibu failed to provide appropriate care, and that Willis was left with permanent physical and cognitive injuries from an anoxic brain injury. Summit Malibu denied any wrongdoing.
The rehabilitation center had argued that Willis had repeatedly refused medical advice, declined prescribed medications, and ignored recommendations to attend a hospital or urgent care center.
It added in court filings that staff had no legal authority to force her to seek outside medical treatment, and that there was no evidence that its employees had acted negligently, highlighting that Willis was regularly monitored throughout the day.
Cooper's suit had alleged that her daughter's irreversible brain injury and lifelong disability was a result of the center's alleged negligence, abandonment and recklessness.
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