Findings are reported resulting from a 3-year study of the impacts of academic employment-discrimination litigation on the parties and their institutions. Two nationwide surveys were conducted, one of plaintiffs and one of university counsel. Six major lawsuits against colleges and universities were investigated by interviewing the plaintiffs and persons in their support networks, defendant faculty and administrators, and attorneys and judges. In addition, all academic employment-discrimination cases litigated in federal courts between 1972 and 1984 were reviewed to determine the win/loss record and the types and nature of the claims. From these data, conclusions are presented about the individual and institutional consequences of this litigation, and suggestions are offered to academic leaders. The following topics are addressed: trends in academic discrimination litigation; consequences for plaintiffs; career consequences; consequences for institutions and their leaders; and implications for academic leaders, including criteria for making the litigation decision and alternatives to litigation. (KM)