A rehabilitation center has reportedly reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit filed by the mother of adult film star Emily Willis, who suffered a heart attack in 2024 and is now in a vegetative state, according to court documents filed in Santa Monica Court.
On February 24th, lawyers for Summit Malibu notified Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Mark A. Young that a conditional settlement had been reached in a lawsuit filed by Yesenia Lara Cooper, the mother and legal guardian of Litzy Lara Banuelos, who performed in adult films under the stage name Emily Willis.
Court documents indicate that a request for dismissal is expected to be filed by September 1st. The terms of the settlement are not known at present.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accused Summit Malibu of failing to provide adequate care for Banuelos while she was undergoing treatment at the facility for a ketamine addiction. The lawsuit stated that Cooper’s abandonment, recklessness, and negligence resulted in irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental incapacity to Banuelos.
Summit Malibu, in denying all wrongdoing in the case, stated that Litzy repeatedly failed to follow medical recommendations while at the facility for treatment for a ketamine addiction.
“It is undisputed that during her stay, Litzy refused to follow medical recommendations and take her medications. She refused to go to urgent care or the hospital voluntarily, despite being encouraged to do so by (Summit Malibu).”
The facility further stated that it could not compel Litzy to seek urgent medical care because of her refusal.
Summit Malibu’s lawyers further stated that there was no evidence of negligence by the facility’s staff, citing allegations in the lawsuit that Litzy was under staff supervision at all times while at the rehabilitation center.
