A lawsuit filed towards the end of 2024 has shed more light on ex-adult film star Emily Willis’ tragic health condition.
According to legal documents obtained by Complex, Willis’ family has taken legal action against Summit Malibu — a rehab center in Los Angeles where Willis was seeking treatment for a “ketamine addiction.” The plaintiffs are suing the center and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment, for professional negligence, negligence, fraudulent business practices, and abuse of a dependent adult.
The complaint states Willis — born Litzy Lara Banuelos — was admitted to the facility on January 27, 2024, after spending the previous year consuming “five to six grams” of ketamine a day. The lawsuit, which describes Willis' treatment at the facility as "tortious conduct," reveals that a psychiatrist prescribed her antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications to treat her major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.
As part of her Summit Malibu admission, Willis underwent a health screening that yielded no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system. Subsequent tests reportedly yielded the same results; however, staffers noted Willis’ health condition was not improving, the lawsuit said.
“On January 30, 2024, it was noted in a ‘Biopsychsocial’ that [Willis] has a history of Anorexia Nervosa and was to be referred to a dietician. Her appearance was noted as disheveled, frail, disoriented’ with a ‘nervous’ mood and ‘poor’ insight and behavior. She was noted as being ‘extremely’ medically impaired and ‘considerably’ impaired overall," the lawsuit reads.
A couple of days later, staffers reported Willis was not showering or getting dressed, and was struggling to sleep due to vaginal pain. It was also noted she was experiencing tremors and spasms. Shortly after, Willis was reportedly urged to go to urgent care, as she was experiencing severe dehydration. Staffers said Willis refused.
Per the lawsuit, facility workers called 911 on February 3 after Willis rejected recommendations to seek treatment at UC or the emergency room. Paramedics reportedly arrived at the center at around 11:30 a.m. to take her vitals. However, she was not transported to a hospital, the lawsuit states.
More than 24 hours later, a nurse practitioner reportedly found Willis “unconscious,” called paramedics, and started performing CPR. It’s unclear how long she had been unconscious before the discovery.
The nurse stated paramedics were able to get a pulse “after maybe 30-40 minutes,” and Willis was then transported to the hospital. However, the lack of oxygen to her brain left her comatose, according to the lawsuit.
“As a direct and proximate result of Respondents’ neglect, abandonment, recklessness and negligence in failing to provide care and treatment for [Willis] she suffered irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental incapacity, pain, suffering and emotional distress, among other damages,” the lawsuit reads.
The plaintiffs said Willis could’ve avoided “irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental incapacity” had the staffers followed their protocols.
“Eventually [Willis] grew so dehydrated that a nurse could not measure her blood pressure,” the family’s attorney, James A. Morris Jr., told the Daily Star. “By this time her acute medical distress had been recorded and yet they left the decision to go to an urgent care up to a patient who was suffering incredible pain and could not care for her own well-being. There is no excuse for their failure to obtain medical and psychological care..."
The suit continues, “We hope this lawsuit will spur real change in how treatment centers handle critical cases. Too many patients who should be receiving life-saving interventions are being lost to negligence.”
Willis is now receiving care at her home in Utah, according to the suit. It states that she’s unable to move or speak but can “track things with her eyes.”
