SpicyM

"She petitioned the court to allow her to obtain service by alternate means, including e-mail"

..which means it is not usual procedure and that court had to approve it. Also, this is a criminal case, he was contacted by police.

Did you reply to that or acknowledge anyone you knew of the email or that you received it?

I don't say they can't use it. I just say it can't be proven you received it. Even delivery notification doesn't ensure the email was delivered. It can still end up in a spam folder, or you simply don't use the email address anymore, or the email address is shared etc.

Where I live this would not work. It must be proven that YOU received the delivery, by signing the paper, the delivery confirmation. And the official letter must be mailed to your actual physical address where you reside or stay.