A judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former adult film actress who alleged another member of the plaintiff’s onetime profession falsely suggested she was among the participants seen in a video engaging in dog sex.
Emily Willis, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, is currently in a vegetative state and is the subject of a second lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Lara Cooper, against the Summit Malibu rehabilitation center alleging dependent adult abuse. But in October 2021, Willis sued Gianna Dior for defamation in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking more than $5 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages, over the video.
On Monday, no one showed up on Willis’ behalf for a scheduled proceeding and Judge Michael Small, who had previously warned he might toss the case if the non-appearances continued, did just that, but without prejudice, meaning the case can be revived with a proper explanation to the judge.
On Feb. 28, when Small granted a motion by Willis’ attorney to be relieved as counsel because of a breakdown in communications, he said that Cooper would need to file a guardian ad litem application in order for her daughter’s case to proceed.
A guardian ad litem is someone who represents the best interests of a minor or incapacitated person who lacks the ability to represent themselves in a legal proceeding. An attorney representing Dior was present for Monday’s hearing.
Dior’s real name is Emily Katherine Correro. According to Willis’ suit, in 2021 a video began circulating within the adult entertainment industry of several women engaging in sexual acts with a dog.
“There was considerable rumor, speculation and innuendo about the identities of the performers within the industry, including on social media,” the suit stated. “It was a scandal, and a highly salient one, with obvious potential to destroy careers.”
Dior tweeted a false accusation that Willis took part in the video, according to the suit, which further states that Dior’s initial tweet included a screenshot of a tweet by Willis, in which the plaintiff insulted an unidentified person.
“Dior apparently assumed (Willis’) insult was directed at her and published her lie about the dog video in response,” the suit stated.
When other adult performers tweeted their criticism of Dior and others who were spreading rumors about the dog video, Dior doubled down on her accusation, according to the suit.
In her previous court papers, an attorney for Dior denied Willis was defamed.
In Cooper’s Santa Monica Superior Court suit, she alleges Summit Malibu was negligent in the care of her daughter, who suffered a heart attack at the facility that left her in a vegetative state in 2024. Willis, now 26, was at the facility for treatment for a ketamine addiction.
However, Summit Malibu attorneys deny that Willis was the victim of dependent adult abuse. Cooper recently filed an amended complaint in response to Judge Mark A. Young’s finding that the facility’s care of her daughter was reckless.