Emily Willis Rehab Case Reaches Major Court Decision After 2024 Medical Emergency

Former adult film star Emily Willis has received a $3 million settlement following a medical emergency at a private rehabilitation center that left her with severe and permanent brain damage.

The agreement brings the legal claim filed by her mother closer to an end nearly two years after Willis was found unresponsive at Summit Malibu in February 2024.

Although the settlement has now been approved, the exact cause of the crisis remains unknown. The facility has also continued to deny that its employees were responsible for Willis's injuries.

Willis's family brought the case against Summit Malibu after the 27-year-old suffered cardiac arrest and "irreversible brain damage" during the 2024 incident. The resulting injuries left her "permanently disabled".

She had entered the treatment center while seeking help for anorexia and weighed about 100 pounds at the time. Her lawyer, James A. Morris Jr., stressed that Willis had not gone there for ketamine treatment because she had already stopped using the drug before her admission.

Willis was found unconscious inside the facility in February 2024. Her mother, Yesenia Cooper, said in the lawsuit that a nurse gave her CPR for about three minutes before paramedics arrived, and emergency workers restored a pulse after 30 to 40 minutes.

Willis pictured in 2023. Credit: Unique Nicole/Getty Images.

The timeline before emergency workers restored her pulse

The amount of time Willis spent without a pulse became one of the most important medical details in the case. Her family's account states that staff began CPR after finding her unresponsive, but it does not say how long she had been unconscious before anyone entered the room.

That missing period makes it difficult to establish exactly when the emergency began. It also leaves uncertainty over how long her brain may have gone without enough oxygen before treatment started.

The legal dispute focused not only on what happened after Willis was found, but also on whether the facility should have recognized signs that she needed a higher level of medical care before the cardiac arrest occurred.

Morris said Willis suffered an anoxic brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation. The injury left her disabled and paralyzed, though the available court reports did not state how long she had been unconscious before staff discovered her.

A Los Angeles judge later found that Willis was "no longer capable of managing her own affairs", according to the Daily Star.

Court filings describe a profound loss of physical function. Willis can no longer move her body, only opens her eyes or makes grunting sounds on occasion, and does not respond to people around her in a consistent way.

What an anoxic brain injury means in Willis's case

An anoxic brain injury happens when the brain is deprived of oxygen. The outcome can vary, but a long period without enough oxygen can damage the areas that control movement, speech, awareness, memory, and other basic functions.

In Willis's case, the reported effects involve both physical movement and communication. Her condition has made her dependent on other people and unable to manage decisions or legal matters on her own.

The settlement does not reverse those injuries. It provides compensation connected to the legal claim while her long-term medical and care needs continue.

Morris said Willis most likely has "locked in syndrome". He explained that the condition can leave someone unable to move or communicate even though they may remain mentally aware of what is happening around them.

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason approved the settlement resolving the claim filed by Willis's mother, the Independent reported. The court needed to review the agreement because Willis could not approve or manage it herself.

The legal team originally requested $1.2 million in attorney fees. The case was finalized after that amount was reduced to $1 million.

Emily Willis has been left permanently disabled after the medical emergency. Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Why a judge had to review the agreement

A private settlement would normally be accepted by the people involved in the case. Willis's condition meant she could not personally assess the terms, authorize the payment, or make decisions about how the money should be handled.

Her mother pursued the claim on her behalf, but the court still had to decide whether the proposed agreement protected Willis's interests. The review also included the amount set aside for legal fees.

The reduction in attorney fees left a larger portion of the settlement available for Willis, although the reports did not provide a full breakdown of how the remaining funds would be managed or used for her care.

Morris acknowledged in a court declaration that the claim was difficult to prove. He wrote: "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 said investigators still do not know what caused Willis's medical crisis or whether Summit Malibu could have prevented the injuries. Morris also described her condition as "fragile" when she entered the facility.

The lawsuit accused Summit Malibu of failing to provide proper care and alleged that its actions led to Willis's permanent physical and cognitive injuries. The rehabilitation center denied all wrongdoing.

The settlement did not resolve every disputed question

Reaching an agreement brought the civil claim to an end without producing a final trial decision on each allegation. Summit Malibu did not accept responsibility as part of the position described in the court filings.

Willis's legal team argued that the center should have responded differently to her condition before the emergency. The facility maintained that its staff monitored her and recommended outside medical treatment when they believed it was needed.

That left the central dispute unchanged: Willis's family believed the center failed to protect a vulnerable patient, while Summit Malibu said its employees acted within the limits of their authority and available information.

Summit Malibu argued that Willis repeatedly rejected medical advice during her stay. The center said she declined prescribed medication and did not follow recommendations to visit a hospital or urgent care facility.

Its court filings also stated that staff had no legal power to force Willis to seek treatment elsewhere. The facility denied that any employee acted negligently and said Willis received regular checks throughout the day.

Cooper's lawsuit presented a different account. It alleged that negligence, abandonment, and reckless care at the center caused her daughter's irreversible brain injury and lifelong disability.