Legal Question in Technology Law in Indiana

Re: What constitutes defamation on the internet

Defamation on the internet is the same as defamation in any other forum. A defamatory statement is one which makes a false factual assertion and which damages the reputation of the subject. The burden of proof is higher for a *plaintiff* who is a public figure than for one who isn't, but whether the *author* is a public figure doesn't matter.

Your question doesn't say that your neighbor made any factually false statements about you. Accurately quoting your emails generally would not be defamatory, though it could be if the quotations were taken out of context. Saying the statements came from the person across the street instead of identifying you by name also makes it less likely that you were defamed, since your reputation can only be damaged if people know who the author was writing about and since, pesumably, few people know who lives across the street from even their favorite columnists.