FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The state's child welfare agency has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit over the alleged physical and sexual abuse of six siblings placed in foster care.

The Department of Children & Families workers "ignored clear signs of danger" in allowing five brothers and their sister to be placed with Frank and Jackie Lynch, who had a history of child abuse, the 1999 lawsuit charged.

"By the department's own standards, rules and regulations, the Lynch foster home should never have been licensed and re-licensed as a foster home," the children's attorney Howard Talenfeld said.

The settlement comes as the agency faces intense criticism for its handling of the case of 5-year-old Rilya Wilson, who was missing at least 15 months before state officials realized she was gone.

"We feel that the settlement was just," agency spokeswoman LaNedra Carroll said.

The siblings, now ages 9 to 15, were placed with the Lynches in 1990, adopted by the couple in 1995 and removed in 1997 "because of the pervasive abuse they suffered while at their home," according to court records.

Talenfeld charged the Lynches forced the children to drink cough medicine to make them sleep, and videotaped them being physically and sexually abused. He alleged the first state caseworker did not visit the home until 20 months after the children arrived.

According to court documents, Jackie Lynch's daughter from a prior marriage was removed from her care in 1987 for sexual and emotional abuse.

Talenfeld also alleged caseworkers were aware Frank Lynch "had abandoned his biological children," had been arrested for obstruction of justice and fell $16,000 behind in child support payments.