Updated February 23, 2000 3:31 p.m. ET
Ala. Wal-Mart to pay up to $16 million over shotgun used to kill woman
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Wal-Mart will pay two little girls up to
$16 million for selling their father a shotgun he used to kill
their mother while he was under a restraining order.
A federal judge approved the settlement Tuesday between Wal-Mart
and the family of Sherry White.
James Michael White killed his 22-year-old wife and her brother
in 1998, days after buying the gun. White was convicted and
sentenced to life in prison.
Sherry White's family sued Wal-Mart, claiming it was negligent
in selling White the shotgun because White indicated on a federal
form that he was under a restraining order. Federal law bars people
under restraining orders from buying guns.
White testified at his trial that he first signed "no" but
changed his answer to "yes" while store clerks were occupied with
cash register problems.
Under the settlement, Wal-Mart did not admit to any wrongdoing.
The couple's daughters are 2 and 5.
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