Questione giuridica chiave
Whether the refusal decision of 10 September 2003 was validly served before 5 November 2003, making the cantonal appeal late
Decisione estratta
The Federal Court found it was not arbitrary to deem the decision served by the second failed registered mailing attempt and therefore to treat the subsequent appeal as late.
Motivazione estratta
Under Zurich practice, after two failed registered service attempts, service may be presumed if the addressee had to expect official mail and the failure was attributable to him. The court held the cantonal findings on the second attempt were not manifestly incorrect and that the resulting service fiction was not arbitrary in outcome.