PITTSBURGH — The aunt of a 4-year-old Armstrong County girl starved to death by her parents has appealed a federal judge's decision to dismiss a lawsuit against child welfare caseworkers in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties.

The judge last month ruled that Kristen Tatar's aunt couldn't prove the government's actions directly caused the girl's death. The girl's aunt, Cathy Fondrk of Hyde Park, says caseworkers didn't do enough to protect the girl.

The judge says the girl died as a result of her parents "incomprehensible" conduct.