The types and number of faculty cases litigated and reported at state and federal levels for the 1982 calendar year were examined. Each of 48 cases was reviewed for the basic facts, the underlying legal rationale, the data requirements, and the decision of the court. Categories of cases and the associated data needs were developed. From these categorical data summaries, suggested institutional research databases and studies were formulated as advanced planning mechanisms. Based on the 1982 cases, it is concluded that most cases were brought to court by nontenured males at graduate-level institutions and that the courts held for the institutions in a majority of these cases. It is recommended that that a current and extensive faculty database is essential for avoiding or successfully surviving litigation. Initial employment data, salary and promotion histories, and workload data are important components that should be carefully monitored. Institutional researchers, in cooperation with administrators, should design studies to periodically compare salaries, raises, promotions, and tenure achievement by sex, race, age, and organizational units in order to keep administrators informed of potential trouble areas. (SW)