Single Dad Cries as He Wins Grandparents’ Rights Trial Over Visitation of Daughter Just 1 Day Before Wife’s Death Anniversary

A Rhode Island Family Court judge on Thursday dismissed a petition for visitation rights brought by the maternal grandparents of a 4-year-old girl, handing a significant legal victory to her widowed father just one day before the second anniversary of his wife’s death.

Judge Felix Gill ruled that the grandparents, Siavash Ghoreishi and Jila Khorsand, failed to satisfy the state statute requiring evidence that Scott Naso’s decision to restrict access to his daughter, Laila, was “unreasonable.” While the ruling concludes the current trial, it follows a grueling legal battle that has cost Naso more than $500,000 in legal fees and personal expenses.

A pivotal moment in the proceedings involved a secret recording of Naso, produced by a family friend and shared with the grandparents to bolster their case. Judge Gill characterized the video as a “fatal flaw” and an “overstep,” stating that the recording validated Naso’s inherent distrust of the in-laws.

“It was an invasion of privacy,” Gill noted, suggesting the tactic backfired by demonstrating why a protective parent might seek to distance his child from the petitioners.

The case was underscored by disturbing allegations regarding the medical conduct of Ghoreishi, a pediatrician, and Khorsand, a pathologist. Naso filed a formal complaint with the Rhode Island Department of Health in early 2025, accusing the pair of medical interference and “factitious disorder imposed on another.”

Naso alleges the grandparents provided medical advice that masked his late wife’s cancer symptoms and claims Ghoreishi wrote over 36 prescriptions for Laila before the age of three. Both grandparents relinquished their medical licenses shortly after their daughter, Shahrzad “Sherry” Naso, died of breast cancer in April 2024.

Despite the dismissal, Judge Gill did not spare Naso from criticism. The judge held Naso in contempt of court for unilaterally halting court-ordered supervised visits in January 2025 without legal authorization. Naso was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.

Furthermore, while Gill acknowledged Naso as a “fit and proper” parent—a designation that legally entitles him to deference regarding his child’s upbringing—the judge expressed a personal belief that visitation remained in the child’s best interest.

Naso, visibly emotional following the verdict, maintained that his actions were strictly protective. “I’ve essentially bankrupted myself to fight for her,” Naso said, indicating he sees no path to reconciliation with his in-laws at this juncture.

Attorneys for the grandparents have not commented on whether they intend to appeal the decision. Naso stated he plans to spend the anniversary of his wife’s death visiting her grave, credits her for his strength, and prepares for what he describes as a “continuing fight” for his daughter’s future.