Galler v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 468 N.E.2d 691 (NY 1984). · Go Syfert
Galler v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 468 N.E.2d 691 (NY 1984). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
21 citation events (13 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: K.J. v. Great Oaks Charter Sch. (nysupctnewyork, 2026-03-09)
Treatment trajectory · 1984 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1984 2005 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 3 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) K.J. v. Great Oaks Charter Sch.
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2026 · confidence medium
Co. of Am., 63 NY2d 637, 641 (1984), a plaintiff need not know the exact substance; he may rely on inferences from facts.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Linden v. Target Corporation
E.D.N.Y · 2023 · confidence medium
Co. of Am., 63 N.Y.2d 637, 638 (1984) (discuss- ing Silva v. Am.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) De Paris v. Women's National Republican Club, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Co. of Am., 63 NY2d 637, 639 [1984], affg 99 AD2d 720 [1st Dept 1984] [“evidence . . . insufficient to establish prima facie that what plaintiff slipped on was a wax residue” where plaintiff noticed a two foot streak on the floor where she fell and testified that, when she was leaving the hospital to which she had been taken after the accident, she saw a nurse scraping what looked like wax off of her shoe]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Gladys Galler, Appellant,
v.
Prudential Insurance Company of America Et Al., Respondents, Et Al., Defendant
New York Court of Appeals.
Jul 3, 1984.
468 N.E.2d 691
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL, Edward P. Dunphy for appellant., Martin M. McGlynn for Prudential Insurance Company of America and another, respondents., Joseph D. Ahearn for Arcade Cleaning Contractors, Inc., respondent.
Cooke and Judges Jasen, Jones, Wachtler, Meyer, Simons and Kaye Concur.
Cited by 16 opinions  |  Published
OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs, although on somewhat different reasoning. Silva v American Irving Sav. Bank (31 AD2d 620, affd without opn 26 NY2d 727), on which it relied, was an action against the building owner; the cleaning contractor was not a party defendant. We affirmed in that case not on the basis that the proof was insufficient to establish negligent waxing, but because there was insufficient proof of notice, actual or constructive, on the part of the owner (see Madrid v City of New York, 42 NY2d 1039; and Golding v Mauss, 27 NY2d 580, which revd on dissent at Appellate Division, notwithstanding the citation of Silva by the majority in that court as to the sufficiency of the proof).

A prima facie case of the negligent application of wax may be established by evidence that a dangerous residue of wax was present on the floor (Conroy v Montgomery Ward & Co., 300 NY 540, affg without opn 275 App Div 980;[*639] Davis v Kresge Co., 267 App Div 850, mot for lv to app den 292 NY 723; 1 PJI 2:91, p 273). Here, however, the evidence was insufficient to establish prima facie that what plaintiff slipped on was a wax residue (see Rempe v Betts, 8 NY2d 905, affg without opn 8 AD2d 738).

Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Jones, Wachtler, Meyer, Simons and Kaye concur.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.