Questione giuridica chiave
Whether a personally summoned appellant forfeits the appeal by failing to appear at the appeal hearing when counsel appears instead.
Decisione estratta
No. The appellant's absence does not cause forfeiture of the appeal if the attorney appears.
Motivazione estratta
Section 298(1) ZPO does not clearly and unambiguously provide for forfeiture in this situation. The appeal continues the proceedings in second instance, and the sanction of forfeiture is too severe to be inferred beyond the statute's clear wording. The notice to the appellant concerned personal appearance for examination, not forfeiture. However, if a party examination is ordered, the absent appellant may suffer evidentiary and cost-related disadvantages under §§ 157(2) and 161 ZPO.