Former DeKalb County schools superintendent Crawford Lewis will get more legal protection from taxpayers.

With no discussion Monday, the school board voted 5-3 to waive a $100,000 cap on Lewis’ expenses in connection with a lawsuit brought by former contractor Heery/Mitchell. The joint venture was in charge of all school construction, and sued after it was fired by Lewis and the school board.

DeKalb did not reveal how much payments to law firm Goodman, McGuffey, Lindsey & Johnson will exceed the cap, though future fees must be approved monthly.

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Uta Thomas picks up her son, Jax, during a public hearing in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. She implored the school board not to close Dunbar Elementary. 
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Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

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Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat gives a tour of Fulton County Jail in  2023. (Natrice Miller/AJC 2023)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC