“ These trials were insane, where Alex was issued default judgements without even being able to present his case.”
He had plenty of chances of complying with discovery if he so wished. It wasn’t a default judgement from the get go. It was a result of Jones absolute refusal to engage with the process appropriately, likely because it would be even worse for than this result as a consequence of more damning things coming to light.
“It is a well known fact that it is virtually impossible for public figures to sue for defamation.”
No, it is simply a much higher bar. Actual malice, meaning knowingly issuing false statements or having recklessly disregard for , becomes required to be showed, but that is not an impossible thing to clear, certainly not in this case.