Plаintiff appeals the summary judgment dismissal of his complaint which sought recovery for personal injury.
Plaintiff was employed by Graven Brothers Construction Company which was engaged in boring holes under the highway in Ferron, Utah, to aсcommodate sewer lines. On October 16, 1974, while so employed, plaintiff was assisting Lloyd Graven in loading an augеr onto a truck upon which a telescopic boom was mounted which could extend from 20 to 45 feet. The boom of the truck came in contact with defendant’s high voltage lines which passed overhead. The *938 power traveled down the boom and struck plaintiff, thereby causing him bodily injury.
Plaintiff filed this action on December 7, 1976, аlleging negligence on the part of defendant in maintaining the uninsulated power lines at an unsafe height. Defеndant’s response thereto was the motion for summary judgment in question which was heard on December 21, 1978. Two affidavits were filed in support thereof, together with the depositions of plaintiff and Lloyd Graven. The affidavits asserted that the National Electric Safety Code required the power lines to have a vertical clеarance of 18 feet, whereas an actual measurement of the lines revealed a clearance of 30 feet 10 inches. The depositions revealed that both plaintiff and Graven were aware of the proximity of the energized power lines. Of particular importance is the deposition of Graven which reveals that he observed the position of the lines and was fully aware of the necessity of avoiding contact with them; that no notice was given to defendant of the work being performed under the power lines; and that no request was made of defendant to de-energize the lines.
Plaintiff countered with two affidavits, the first of which asserted that the boom on the truck came in actual contact with the power line аlthough it was extended - no more than 24 feet from the ground. The second affidavit controverted the first in that it assеrted that the boom did not actually contact the power line but, rather, that the electricity arcеd through the air to the boom. The second affidavit also asserted that “A measure of that point (where thе wire was hanging) indicates that the wire was between 14 and 16 feet from the ground.”
On the basis of the foregoing, the trial judgе ruled, as a matter of law, that defendant was free of actionable negligence, apparеntly determining that the negligence of Graven Brothers (through Lloyd Graven) was the sole proximate cause of plaintiff’s injuries.
Plaintiff contends on appeal that the record discloses disputed material facts which should have precluded judgment as a matter of law. Specifically, he asserts the following as unresolvеd issues of material fact: (1) the height of the power lines; (2) whether they were operating correctly and were adequately maintained; and (3) whether the acts of Graven Brothers constitute such negligence as would preclude recovery against defendant.
A motion for summary judgment 1 is an effective means of ascertaining the existence of undisputed facts that will support a judgment as a matter of law and thus avoid the necessity of trial. 2 Of course, summary judgment is appropriate only if the plead-' ings, depositions, affidavits, and other submissions of the рarties reflect that there is no genuine issue of a material fact. 3 However, bare contentions, unsupported by any specification of facts in support thereof, raise no material questions of fаct as will preclude the entry of summary judgment. 4
Applying the foregoing principles to the instant case, we find рlaintiff’s contentions on appeal to be without merit.
It is to be noted initially that more than adequate time has been afforded for full discovery, 5 yet plaintiff has not been successful in producing any evidence whatsoever of negligence on the part of defendant, or that its actions in any way caused his injury. Plaintiff’s nakеd assertions of negligence, unsupported by any facts whatsoever, that defendant failed to maintain its рower lines “correctly” or “adequately,” *939 falls far short of raising a material issue of fact on the issue of negligence. 6
Even if it be assumed that defendant was in some way negligent in maintaining its lines, it is apparent from the fаcts of record that such was not a proximate cause of the accident. If one negligently crеates a condition and a subsequent actor observes that condition and negligently fails to avoid it, such subsequent negligence is viewed as an intervening cause which may well become the sole proximate cause of any injury. 7
It is undisputed in the instant case that both plaintiff and defendant observed the proximity of the pоwer lines and were aware of their potential danger. It is further undisputed that defendant was not apprisеd of the work to be performed under the lines; that no request was made that the lines be de-energized; and thаt Lloyd Graven failed to avoid contact with the lines.
In light of the facts and circumstances of this case, the trial court appropriately determined, as a matter of law, that the acts of plaintiff and Graven Brothers were the sole proximate cause of the accident. 8
Affirmed. No costs awarded.
Notes
. Governed by Rule 56, U.R.C.P.
.
Rich v. McGovern,
Utah,
.
In re Williams’ Estates,
.
Transamerica Title Ins. Co. v. United
Resources, Inc.,
. From the date of injury until the motion for summary judgment was heard some four years had passed.
. Supra, footnote 4.
. See
Hillyard v. Utah By-Products Co.,
.For cases of similar import see
Olsen v. Industrial Commission,
Utah,