Former adult film actress Emily Willis (real name Litzy Lara Banuelos) remains in critical, round-the-clock medical care following an extended cardiac arrest in early 2024 that left her with catastrophic, irreversible brain damage.
A judge approved a $3 million court-approved settlement between Willis’ mother and legal guardian, Yesenia Lara Cooper, and the Malibu rehabilitation facility where the emergency occurred. The payout will help manage the ex-star’s long-term lifetime care bills.
The 27-year-old checked into the treatment facility in January 2024 seeking help for ketamine addiction. Just days later, Willis was found unresponsive in her room.
Anoxic Brain Injury: Emergency responders spent 30 to 40 minutes performing CPR before restoring her pulse. The severe, prolonged oxygen deprivation caused an irreversible anoxic brain injury.
Current Medical Status: Court filings from her family’s legal team detail that Willis is permanently disabled and essentially “frozen” unable to speak, move her body, or eat on her own. While she can occasionally open her eyes or grunt, doctors do not expect further functional recovery.
Settlement Terms: The $3 million settlement which awards approximately $1.25 million directly to Willis’ trust after legal fees resolves the family’s lawsuit alleging a failure in clinical care. The treatment center denied all wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
Willis, who stepped away from adult entertainment in 2022 to pursue mainstream acting, now lives under the constant care of her mother and medical personnel in Utah. The court approval was required because Willis is permanently incapacitated and unable to manage her own financial or legal affairs.
