California revokes license of psychologist Janis E. Foote, related to negligent custody evaluation

July 7, 2012

As of May 23, 2012, the California Board of Psychology revoked the license of Janis Elaine Foote, Ph.D. based on her failure to comply with the terms of an earlier probation order issued by the Board.

On June 21, 2008, the Board placed Foote on five years probation, based on a finding of Negligent Acts and General Unprofessional Conduct, among other things, for providing a custody recommendation to the court after having interviewed her patient's three children without the knowledge or consent of the other parent (who shared joint custody of the children) and made evaluations against the other parent without ever having met or observed him directly. 

Among the conditions of her probation was the requirement that she file quarterly reports stating that she was in compliance with the terms of her probation.

In August 2001, the Board sought to revoked probation and served appropriate notice on Foote. The documents were returned, unopened with a notice that Foote had moved and left no address. However, the Board found that Foote had signed the certified mail receipt for the package. Foote nevertheless never responded to the Board and failed to file a change of address with the Board, as required.

The Board also noted that Foote engaged in a dual relationship with a minor patient, whom she had spend the night at her house and help with her garage sale and also paid the child to clean her house.

She is also required to reimburse the Board $24,371 for its costs of investigation and enforcement.

Source: Default Decision and Order in the Matter of the Accusation and Petition to Revoke Probation Against Janis Elaine Foote, Ph.D., License NO. PSY 5810.