Ha! Before I clicked the link I thought it was going to be that question "If person A leaves something in their pocket and person B washes the garment, who is responsible for the thing being ruined?"

I LOL'd at that today because I had this vision in my head of a couple arguing over some ruined geegaw and one indignant party saying "I'll resolve this once and for all! I'll Ask Metafilter!"

As for your couch, it's probably borked. Sorry.

Ha! This made me think of that godawful song, MacArthur Park, wherein some dumbass left a cake out in the rain...

I agree, your couch is borked. I'm sorry.

Jan, it's almost completely person A's fault. But if B always does the laundry and knows A is prone to leaving things in his/her pocket, then B is mostly responsible.

BUT but but! if the couch IS completely borked, then this brings up the potential for fun and entertaining craigslist / thrift store / couch shopping stories!!

or in other words, when life gives you lemons, toss 'em in a quart of vodka, eh?

Damn it. I'm sad. I feel bad when I waste a few sheets of paper, let alone a whole couch.

As far as washing things in pockets go, I'm one of those that always checks all pockets as the clothes go into the washer. This comes from the experience of washing and sometimes drying things like chapstick, bus passes, lighters, tissues, and an entire pack of cigarettes.

Just spraypaint Levitra on it and send a picture to Rob Cockerham.