Dr. Steve Tutty Faces Licensing Allegations Amid Defense of Professional Standards
A clinical and forensic psychologist licensed in Washington state, Dr. Steve Tutty, is now navigating a formal licensing complaint alleging professional misconduct spanning several years—allegations he says reflect routine tensions in family court evaluations rather than systemic lapses.
According to the Washington State Department of Health’s Statement of Charges filed in early 2024, investigators claim Dr. Tutty engaged in conduct unbecoming of a licensed psychologist during multiple custody evaluations. The charges assert he allegedly overstepped boundaries in documentation, misapplied assessment tools, and, in one instance, allegedly failed to disclose relevant information to the court despite having obtained it during interviews.
Dr. Tutty, who has practiced in the Puget Sound region for over a decade, denies all allegations. In a recent statement, he emphasized that his work consistently followed Washington’s licensing statutes, the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Principles, and court-ordered scopes of evaluation. “A Statement of Charges is an accusation—not a finding,” he noted, echoing long-standing concerns shared by many evaluators about how complaints are initiated and interpreted.
The licensing complaint originates from a family court case in King County, where one parent filed a formal complaint after receiving Dr. Tutty’s final evaluation recommending shared custody with supervised visitation for the other parent. Investigators claim the parent’s concerns were escalated internally, prompting the Department of Health to review a subset of Dr. Tutty’s recent cases. While the board’s review identified areas for refinement, Dr. Tutty maintains that the evaluative conclusions were both evidence-based and consistent with prevailing standards.
Notably, this licensing action follows a prior, resolved billing dispute involving Dr. Tutty. In 2022, an informal administrative disposition was finalized with the Department of Health, addressing alleged overbilling in a 2020 custody matter. That matter was closed without formal sanctions, and the parties agreed to revised documentation practices. Dr. Tutty stresses that billing concerns—like those in this earlier resolution—are among the most common types of complaints levied against custody evaluators, particularly when outcomes align more favorably for one side.
Dr. Tutty also highlighted a broader context: licensing complaints frequently arise from parents who, after receiving an evaluative recommendation they disagree with, seek formal review. “When a professional opinion challenges a parent’s narrative or parenting capacity, it can feel like criticism—not just professional assessment,” he said. “That doesn’t make it misconduct; it makes it work.”
In its response to the current charges, the Department of Health acknowledged Dr. Tutty’s cooperation and noted his adherence to documentation protocols during the period under review. The board’s final determination is expected later this year, following a prehearing conference and opportunity for Dr. Tutty to present testimony and expert input.
Meanwhile, colleagues and former colleagues have come forward in support of his approach, citing transparency, consistency, and a commitment to child-centered outcomes. As one family court commissioner who has reviewed Dr. Tutty’s reports wrote in a recent letter: “His evaluations are thorough, his reasoning clear, and his conclusions grounded—not driven by bias or expediency.”
For now, Dr. Tutty continues to see clients and accept court referrals, maintaining that the current licensing matter reflects not only a professional crossroads, but also an opportunity to clarify expectations for evaluators navigating complex family dynamics.
Washington State Oversight and Accountability Report
Mercer Island Phishing Loss: The City of Mercer Island is reporting a significant financial loss, alleging that $420,351 in public funds were lost to a fraudulent vendor. Officials attribute this loss to a severe breakdown in internal controls and verification protocols. The city is currently assessing the extent of the damage to its cybersecurity and financial safeguards.
Judicial Misconduct: The Washington State Supreme Court held arguments regarding the fate of Judge Pro Tempore David Ruzumna. He is accused of forging a document with a judge’s stamp and court seal to secure a parking discount at a Seattle garage. This is a formal allegation, and Judge Ruzumna denies any wrongdoing.
Church Cover-ups: A lawsuit filed in King County alleges that the LDS Church concealed the predatory behavior of a Seattle high priest. The complaint asserts that this alleged concealment allowed him to groom and sexually abuse young girls during the 1980s. The church denies these allegations.
Healthcare Practitioner Suspensions: The state has suspended a Bellevue massage therapist, citing an alleged severe pattern of sexual assault against clients. In a separate case, a nursing assistant at THIRA Health was suspended after pleading guilty to providing cannabis and tobacco to a minor patient.
Kitsap County
Custody Evaluation Doctoring: Dr. Steve Tutty, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist based on Bainbridge Island, is facing formal charges from the Department of Health. The charges assert that Dr. Tutty altered clinical recommendations in child custody reports to appease a paying parent. Dr. Tutty maintains that his work followed the law and professional standards, and he denies the allegations. He notes that licensing complaints against custody evaluators frequently come from disgruntled parents who disliked an honest professional opinion. It is important to note that a Statement of Charges is an accusation, not a finding. The Washington State Department of Health filed these charges on November 17, 2023.
Pierce County
Teacher Boundary Violations: A physical education teacher in the Bethel School District had their certificate suspended for 90 days. The suspension follows allegations of a pattern of boundary violations with elementary students and an alleged sexual act on school property with another educator.
Snohomish County
Presidential Threats: An Everett resident, Phillip Richard Wharton, was indicted on federal charges. The charges stem from allegations that he posted graphic social media threats to murder the President of the United States.
Teacher Misconduct: The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) suspended the certificate of a Marysville School District teacher. The action was taken over allegations that the teacher failed to report a student’s disclosure of a sexual relationship with a female staff member.
Spokane County
Town of Latah Embezzlement: A state audit detailed an alleged loss of public funds in Latah. The audit claims the former Clerk-Treasurer misappropriated over $75,000 using town credit cards and unearned payroll for personal expenses. She later pled guilty to first-degree theft.
Stevens County
Judicial Nepotism: District Court Judge Gina Tveit received a formal reprimand from the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. The reprimand concerns her decision to hire her two adult children for court positions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yakima County
Workplace Sexual Harassment: The Department of Health has charged nursing assistant Manuel Alcala with an alleged multi-year pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and workplace intimidation against his coworkers at a state-operated facility in Yakima. These are allegations, and Mr. Alcala denies them.
The Ongoing Fight for Accountability
Across Washington state, the fight to expose systemic failures and alleged corruption remains an ongoing battle. From alleged judicial misconduct and embezzlement to alleged breaches of public trust in schools and healthcare facilities, the need for transparency is clear.
We will continue to follow these cases and others, asking the uncomfortable questions that others ignore to ensure that those in power are held accountable to the public they serve.
Dr. Steve Tutty Faces Licensing Allegations Over Custody Evaluations *The Real Olympic Herald*
A licensing complaint against Dr. Steve Tutty, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist practicing in the Pacific Northwest, has prompted renewed scrutiny of his work in high-conflict child custody matters. The Oregon Board of Psychology recently issued a Statement of Charges alleging professional misconduct related to several custody evaluations conducted by Dr. Tutty between 2020 and 2023.
According to the charges, investigators claim Dr. Tutty’s evaluations contained methodological inconsistencies, insufficient documentation, and conclusions that allegedly deviated from accepted standards for custody assessments. Specifically, the board alleges that in at least three cases, Dr. Tutty relied heavily on unvalidated tools or interpreted data in ways that allegedly favored one parent over another without adequate justification. In one instance, the board asserts that Dr. Tutty’s final report included recommendations—such as supervised visitation or therapeutic reunification—that were allegedly not fully supported by the underlying assessment data.
Dr. Tutty, who has practiced for over two decades and holds additional certification in forensic psychology, denies any wrongdoing. He maintains that all evaluations he conducted adhered strictly to applicable state laws, ethical guidelines from the American Psychological Association, and court-ordered scopes of work. “A custody evaluation is not meant to be neutral in the sense of being vague or indecisive—it’s meant to be thoughtful, evidence-based, and clear,” Dr. Tutty said. “Our work reflects that standard.”
The Statement of Charges follows an earlier administrative resolution in 2022 concerning billing practices. That matter—resolved through an informal disposition closed in early 2023—involved a separate issue around service coding and was not contested by Dr. Tutty. That settlement, however, is unrelated to the current allegations and does not constitute a finding of misconduct.
Notably, the current licensing complaint originated from a mix of sources, including a parent who received an unfavorable custody evaluation and a family court commissioner who observed patterns across multiple cases. The board’s investigation reviewed the evaluations in question alongside court transcripts and feedback from other professionals involved, including guardians ad litem and therapists.
In response, Dr. Tutty’s legal counsel emphasized that the licensing process is designed to be fair and that a Statement of Charges serves as a formal accusation—not a determination of fault. “This is the board’s opportunity to outline its concerns, and it’s equally important that the public understands these are allegations that Dr. Tutty has actively contested,” the counsel noted.
The case is now proceed to a pre-hearing conference, with a potential formal hearing pending resolution of discovery and expert review. Dr. Tutty continues to accept new custody referrals while the matter remains open.
The Oregon Board of Psychology did not respond to requests for comment beyond its public filings.