Dayna Friduss

Dayna Friduss is a skilled attorney in the Education Law and Personal Injury Divisions at Connell Michael, LLP, where she brings a powerful blend of personal experience, litigation expertise, and deep compassion to her work advocating for children and families. Her practice focuses on special education law, representing families in disputes involving discipline, misidentification, failure to implement IEPs, and systemic noncompliance by public school districts. She has successfully litigated numerous due process complaints and has become a trusted advocate for families navigating some of the most challenging moments in their children's educational journeys.

Dayna’s commitment to special education law is personal. As the mother of two boys, one of whom has autism, she knows firsthand the fear, frustration, and determination that parents experience when a school system fails to meet a child’s needs. After receiving her son's diagnosis and being confronted with bleak expectations, Dayna immersed herself in the science and treatment of autism spectrum disorder and became an unwavering advocate for her son. That experience ignited her passion to help other families, and she has since dedicated her legal career to ensuring children with disabilities receive the services and protections they deserve.

In addition to her work in education law, Dayna plays an important role in the Personal Injury Division, where she contributes her litigation background to cases involving school-based injuries, institutional abuse, negligence, and wrongful death. Her earlier career as an insurance defense attorney and claims professional provided her with extensive experience in litigation strategy, mediation, and conflict resolution—skills she now uses to hold institutions and insurers accountable on behalf of injured children and their families.

Dayna is a graduate cum laude of Georgia State University College of Law and has been licensed to practice in Georgia since 2003. She holds dual degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder, and has completed advanced training in special education law at the Institute of Special Education Advocacy at William & Mary Law School. She is also an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), reflecting her deep involvement in the national special education legal community.

Originally from Colorado, Dayna now uses her professional and personal insight to empower parents, protect children, and ensure justice is served—both in school systems and in civil courts. Her clients value her for her sharp legal mind, her calm confidence, and her unshakable commitment to making sure no family faces these battles alone.