SA Name-calling and Derogatory insinuations in personal email communication

[Dart 77]

Hello --

Could there be any civil recourse for a person who insults, puts down, name-calls (eg "liar, deceptive cretin" etc) or insinuates things about a person, if these thing are done through to a personal email? I doubt that defamation or libel could be an issue as there is no-one else viewing other than the other person. Could there be a civil case for "verbal assault" or "false accusations" or intimidation? There was no foul language used.

I'm not sure where the line is drawn in those instances.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dart 77]

I would like to know this as a family member was duped over an online sale from a private seller and sent some stiff words and accusations to the seller. Now he is worried as he found out that the seller worked at a legal institution and might try something legal if he knows the system. Thanks