New York Court of Appeals

Gertrude J. Gallagher v. St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church

April 4, 196821 N.Y.2d 554

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals held that a public building owner has a duty to provide exterior lighting when the building is open to the public, overturning the traditional common‑law rule that no such duty existed absent a dangerous condition. The Court reinstated the jury verdict for the Gallaghers.