We have written many times of bans and rulings inexcusably issued without the presence of the accused, in blatant contravention of the Torah’s command: שמע בין אחיכם ושפטתם צדק.
When I mentioned this to a certain Jew, he mentioned an interesting legend:
The Maharshal (Rabbi Shlomo Luria) was related to the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), and when he heard of the fantastic claims coming out of Eretz Yisrael, he began sending letters in an attempt to excommunicate the latter, all from his home base in Poland.
So, the Arizal sent him freshly baked Challah from Tzefas. Although it took many weeks of travel, the bread arrived fresh and piping hot. When the Maharshal saw this (and other things) he ceased all opposition.
(For a complete/embellished version of this, see here.)
Of course, even if all this is literal fact, this doesn’t mean it was permitted to act in this fashion…