A family grieving the loss of teenaged boy is suing another teen, claiming his neglect led to the death of their loved one.

According to attorneys, a Mandarin teen should have known his actions would lead to trouble. They said he threw a house party the day another teenager was murdered.

In January 2004, 19-year-old Tavoris Jones was shot in the back when he and his stepbrother left Roger Sears' party.

Another young man was charged with killing Jones, but now Jones' family is bringing a civil lawsuit against Sears.

At issue in court Wednesday was if Sears could be held responsible if a fight, or in this case a murder, occurs at his home.

"It's that it's a teen party with drinking, with drugs and there's no adult supervision," said the victim's attorney Suzanne Bass.

Several parties actually went on over a period of three nights in the same house while Sears' father was out of town. On the third night Jones was shot to death after he ran out of the Sears' house with his stepbrother.

According to police, 20-year-old Troy Solomon shot Jones and turned himself in several days later.

However, Solomon was not the one in court Wednesday. It was Sears who was in court being sued for negligence in throwing the house party at his father's home.

The murdered teen's family said he should have known that there was going to be trouble.

"There's crowding, there's strangers. The host didn't know who was in his house. There was drinking, there was loud music, dim lights. There was a combination of things," Bass said.

Jones' parents left the courtroom in tears as Jones' stepbrother took the stand and told the court what happened when Jones was murdered. He told the court that it wasn't unusual for guns to be fired during parties.

Under Florida law, the host of a party can be sued in civil court, however, that has not happened often.

"It?s a fairly new law in the state of Florida. We think our facts are solid," Bass said.

Lawyers told Channel 4 the case should concluded by Friday.

The trial for Solomon, who was charged with the second-degree murder of Jones, is scheduled to begin March 27.

Previous Stories:

• January 14, 2004: 20-Year-Old Arrested In Teen's Murder
• January 5, 2004: Police Search For Suspects In Mandarin Party Shooting
• January 4, 2004: Teen Killed After Dispute At Mandarin Party