IF, they are not finally let off the hook via the Supreme Court upholding FDA preemption.

And IF they actually turn over all the internal documents that Judge Fallon has requested,

We may have an actual instance of justice being served, whatever the outcome. Merck will not be able to settle and then deny culpability if it goes that way (at least not as easily), and the facts will be known better than they might be.

Allowing for all the permutations in between, we will learn some version of either:

1. It really is possible for the public, media, etc. to “pile on” a company unfairly.

or

2. It really is possible for a company with a reputation for ethics to knowingly look on as thousands die from their product.