Former adult star Emily Willis, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, has reportedly been left permanently disabled after suffering a cardiac arrest at a rehab clinic last year. Her family has filed a lawsuit against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, LLC, alleging negligence and fraudulent business practices.
According to the lawsuit, Willis was admitted to Summit Malibu on January 27, 2024, to treat a severe ketamine addiction. The legal document states she had been consuming “five to six grams” of the drug daily.
However, rather than improving under professional care, her condition allegedly worsened, with symptoms including chills, tremors, an increased heart rate, headaches, and difficulty walking.
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Medical staff reportedly struggled to take her blood pressure due to “dehydration,” and on February 3, emergency services were called—but Willis was not taken to a hospital. The next day, she was found unconscious. Nurses and paramedics performed CPR for 30 to 40 minutes before restoring her heartbeat.
The lawsuit claims that the prolonged lack of oxygen caused Willis to suffer “irreversible brain damage,” leaving her in a vegetative state.
She was later diagnosed with locked-in syndrome—a rare neurological condition that results in near-total paralysis while the patient remains conscious. Those affected can typically only move their eyes, though some may regain limited mobility through therapy. However, a full recovery is nearly impossible.
Her family alleges the rehab facility’s failure to provide timely medical care contributed to her devastating condition. “Had the staff followed standard medical protocols, Emily would have had the opportunity to regain control of her life,” said James A. Morris Jr., the family’s attorney. “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.”
Hospital drug tests reportedly confirmed that Willis had not taken ketamine or any other substances before her cardiac arrest, raising further questions about the rehab center’s role in her deterioration.
The lawsuit, filed on December 27, 2024, seeks to hold the facility accountable for what the family describes as an “unsafe environment.” They hope legal action will prompt much-needed reforms in addiction treatment. “Too many patients who should be receiving life-saving interventions are being lost to negligence,” Morris stated.
Summit Malibu has yet to respond to the allegations.