Emily Willis built a public life under bright lights. Now her family faces a private crisis that no spotlight can soften.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, her relatives say a rehab stay in Malibu ended in tragedy. They allege negligence and other wrongdoing by Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, LLC.

According to the court filing, Willis—born Litzy Lara Banuelos—entered the facility on January 27, 2024 for ketamine addiction. Over the next few days, the complaint describes a steep decline. Staff reportedly noted chills, tremors, headaches, confusion, and trouble walking. The filing also says a nurse struggled to take her blood pressure because of dehydration.

Then came a pivotal moment. On February 3, emergency services responded, but the filing says she did not go to the hospital. The next day, staff found her unconscious, the lawsuit claims. Paramedics and nurses performed CPR for 30 to 40 minutes before her heartbeat returned.

Doctors later diagnosed “locked-in syndrome,” a rare condition that can leave a person awake and aware but unable to speak or move anything except their eyes. The lawsuit argues she suffered irreversible brain injury from lack of oxygen and now lives with permanent disability.

Her family’s attorney says standard medical steps could have changed the outcome. The facility has not publicly responded in the text provided.