Canadian couple Donna and Thomas Dobko launched civil proceedings against Muse & Merchant after being disappointed with the floppiness of their furniture.

The couple purchased the sofa set with two ottomans for over $5,600 CAD (around €3,500 or £3,000) in November 2023, having told salespeople they wanted to buy a firm sofa.

They found that “after sitting on the sofa for an hour or two, the cushions would deflate and angle toward the floor” and raised this with the store in July 2024.

A salesperson informed them that the sofa was not defective but, as it was filled with feathers, it would require maintenance in the form of regular fluffing.

The couple said they would not have bought the sofa if they knew it was filled with feathers and ultimately launched civil proceedings against the store.

A judge in the Provincial Court of British Columbia found that the store had misrepresented the sofa as one which would “hold its shape and form”, which was not the case.

He said: “The evidence is clear that when the Dobkos use the sofa, they must go through the inconvenience of maintaining it. The peace of mind of not having to maintain the sofa was not provided.”

As the sofa was neither defective nor had lost its value, the judge fixed the damages at $500 (around €310 or £270) and also ordered the store to pay $75 in legal costs.