TAMPA -- On Thursday, the parents of 12-year-old Michele Murtha sued the state Department of Children and Families and two companies, claiming they failed to protect their mentally disabled girl.

Filed in Hillsborough Circuit Court, the lawsuit claims the DCF, the Human Services Foundation Inc. and the Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc. should have better monitored the home run by caretaker Nancy Marlins. The suit seeks millions in damages for pain and suffering.

The daughter was one of five people killed in a Seffner home. Police charged Dexter Levingston, who was living at the home, with the killings.

Robber puts closed sign in store's door

ST. PETERSBURG -- A man who robbed Spec's Music near Tyrone Square Mall hung a closed sign on the door, then used a PVC pipe to keep the door from being opened from the outside.

"I don't know that I've ever heard of anybody doing that," said Officer Dan Bates, police spokesman.

The unidentified man, who had a gun, ordered customers and workers to the floor at 4:22 p.m. Wednesday. He was last seen in a car speeding away from the store at 2855 66th St. N with $800 in a duffel bag, Bates said. No one was hurt.

The suspect is 25, white, 6-feet-1 and 185 pounds. He was wearing a white T-shirt, denim shorts and round-framed sunglasses.

Grant conference for faith-based groups

TAMPA -- The city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will host a statewide conference to teach faith-based organizations how to apply for government funding and how to write grants.

The conference takes place June 18 and 19 at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St.Participants will also learn about available HUD programs and take a two-hour tour of housing and economic developments created by faith-based organizations in the area.

The keynote speaker will be Robin McDonald, director of HUD's Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C. Tampa Mayor Dick Greco will also speak.

The deadline to register is Friday. A $60 fee includes lunch, conference materials and tour expenses. To register, call Cathy Wilson at (813) 274-7989.

Treasure Island hit by $3-million ruling

TREASURE ISLAND -- The city of Treasure Island is liable for nearly $3-million in damages for stopping a Clearwater management company from renting units in 1988 at the Land's End condominiums, the Supreme Court of Florida ruled Thursday.

The Florida Supreme Court disagreed with the city that it should be protected under the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity.

The city is liable for damages, the court said, because it did not obtain a bond when it ordered Provident Management Corp. to cease issuing short-term leases at the Sunset Beach resort.

The saga began in 1988 when the city told Provident to stop renting units, saying Land's End Resort was being operated as a motel in violation of the residential zoning codes.

The Clearwater real estate company had rented condominiums for absentee owners. In the past 13 years, the case went three times to the 2nd District Court of Appeal and twice to the Florida Supreme Court. Provident was awarded a $1.7-million judgment in 1994 with 12 percent annual interest.

City officials say Treasure Island has insurance to cover the damages, although the city's insurer has disputed that. The city has an annual budget of $13.7-million.

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