Johns Manville Hit With Monopolization, Defamation Claims

An insulation maker has accused Johns Manville Corp. of monopolizing the market for calcium silicon piping insulation.

The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary uses exclusionary tactics, threats and disparagement toward rivals, and unlawful tying of its products, Chase Manufacturing Inc. alleges.

Johns Manville bullies wholesale customers into buying its “calsil” insulation by threatening to withhold, delay, or jack up the price of other industry-leading products it sells, according to the March 22 complaint filed in Denver federal court.

It also threatens to boycott customers that put its 98 percent market dominance at risk by buying their calsil from other suppliers, Chase ...