Purdue Pharma is back with a revised $7.4 billion plan to settle thousands of opioid-related lawsuits, after a Supreme Court kick in the pants derailed their last attempt to dodge accountability.

Following a court-mandated reality check, Purdue Pharma's new bankruptcy plan aims to address the opioid crisis—without granting the Sackler family a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card this time. The updated settlement offers $7.4 billion to victims and communities ravaged by addiction, including funds for those harmed directly by OxyContin, while Purdue promises to morph into a public benefit company. It seems they want to settle their debts before settling into a new corporate identity.

The fresh plan dictates that payments will be distributed to states, local governments, and individuals who found themselves in unfortunate circumstances thanks to OxyContin—a medication that can only be described as the black sheep of the pharmaceutical family. Given the substantial number of lawsuits, it’s no surprise Purdue felt compelled to dust off its negotiation hat and give this whole accountability thing another shot.

The court's previous ruling last year was akin to the final scene in a thriller where just when you think the villains have escaped, a light shines on their hiding spot. The U.S. Supreme Court thwarted Purdue's earlier attempt, which included a rather unorthodox proposal offering the Sacklers immunity from future lawsuits. Turns out, even the highest court in the land wasn’t fooled by a plan that attempted to use bankruptcy court to grant privileges like seats at the exclusive 'Winners of the Opioid Crisis' table.

With the new plan, Purdue, having learned a lesson or two, will not only contribute $900 million (which, though substantial, still puts them in the class of 'members of Congress' when it comes to funds) but will also introduce some non-monetary concessions. These include a notable transformation into a company that claims it will focus on opioid treatment. It’s a bit like the corporate equivalent of doing community service—except it comes with all the perks of remaining in business.

Among the allocations in their generous gift of $7.4 billion, about $850 million will go towards individuals who have suffered due to opioids. This is a notable step in the direction of reparative justice—especially for those who unwittingly became part of the experiment known as OxyContin prescriptions. And let's not forget the infants harmed by prenatal exposure to opioids; it's hard to imagine a world where anyone, even a future baby, would have to contend with such dire circumstances.

Such settlements, while monumental, often raise the question: How do rules apply to those who seem to have made a career out of evading them? Purdue's hope is that by the time the court dust settles, they’ll have secured the necessary support from creditors—though convincing them to back the plan is akin to asking a cat to take a bath. A vote might be the least of their problems come May, as they try not to scare everyone off with memories of their past escapades.

The Sackler family, however, isn’t going quietly into that great pharmaceutical night. They’ve upped their contribution to between $6.5 and $7 billion, an increase of $1 billion from their earlier offer. The assumption is that this bump was meant to make their reappearance in the courtroom a little more palatable, akin to increasing the weight of their credibility—one dollar at a time. Presumably, they are hoping this will make the public forget their previous attempts to convince millions that addiction was merely a byproduct of poor choices.

Purdue Pharma's evolution into a public benefit company poses the rare opportunity for a corporate rebranding that actually resonates with the public. A transformation generally reserved for high-profile celebrities looking to shake off past mistakes, Purdue is now under the unlikely microscope of accountability. But will a new coat of paint be enough to reshuffle the deck after years of fuelling an epidemic? Time will tell.

As this saga continues, the narrative around Purdue Pharma remains one of blurred lines—a company struggling between balance sheets and human lives. If nothing else, at least they’re no longer giving a hefty pat to the backs of those who created the chaos. Whether the money will come fast enough to offer meaningful aid to victims remains to be seen—after all, waiting for a pharmaceutical company to act in good faith is like waiting for your sandwich to make itself.