Michael W. Tighe

Michael W. Tighe

Managing Member

1812 Lincoln Street
Columbia, South Carolina

Biography

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1941, Mike Tighe attended its public schools and entered the University of South Carolina in 1959.  After attending undergraduate school for two years, he was granted early admission to the University’s Law School.  After his first year in law school, Mike graduated from the undergraduate school, magna cum laude.  He was thereafter commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  While in law school, he was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa, served as Editor-in-Chief of the South Carolina Law Review, and Chief Justice of the Order of Wig and Robe.  He was first in his law school class and its youngest member.  Following graduation, Mike was named law clerk to Chief Judge Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Mike served in the United States Air Force from 1965 until 1969, during which time he served as trial counsel or defense counsel in numerous special and general courts-martial.  Upon separation from the Air Force, he was Assistant Attorney General for South Carolina from 1969 until 1971, and has practiced law privately in Columbia since 1971.  He served as Chairman, Executive Committee, Resolution of Fee Disputes Board of the South Carolina Bar. 

Mike represents title insurers and their insureds, as well as lenders and major developers, in real estate-related litigation in state and federal courts in South Carolina, and in transactional matters. He frequently speaks in Continuing Legal Education, Judicial Continuing Legal Education and trade group programs, usually speaking on real estate topics, although he has spoken on law office management and litigation matters. He frequently testifies as an expert witness on real estate and title insurance related issues. Tighe was included in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America under real estate law.

In addition to being a practicing attorney, Mike is a timber farmer and manager of a stream mitigation credit bank. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator. 

Representative Cases: 

DISCLAIMER:  THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ARE INTENDED ONLY TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF MR. TIGHE’S PRACTICE.  MR. TIGHE IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONTENT.  THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT INTENDED TO, AND CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO PREDICT THE RESULTS IN ANY OTHER CASE.

  • Clemson University Vietnam Moratorium Committee v. Clemson University, 306 F. Supp. 129 (D.S.C. 1969).
  • Lewis v. Gaddy, 254 S.C. 66, 173 S.E.2d 376 (1970).
  • State v. Jordan, 255 S.C. 86, 177 S.E.2d 464 (1970)
  • State v. Holliday, 255 S.C. 142, 177 S.E.2d 541 (1970)
  • Hartness v. Patterson, 255 S.C. 503, 179 S.E.2d 907 (1971)
  • Holler v. Ellisor, 259 S.C. 283, 191 S.E.2d 509 (1972)
  • Congaree Broadcasters, Inc. v. TM Programming, Inc.,  436 F. Supp. 258 (D.S.C. 1977)
  • Redwood Food Corp. v. Baker, 269 S.C. 528, 238 S.E.2d 214 (1977)
  • Crystal Ice Co. v. First Colonial Corp., 273 S.C. 306, 257 S.E.2d 496 (1979).
  • Volkswagenwerk AG v. Hoffman, 489 F. Supp. 678 (D.S.C. 1980)
  • Sellars v. First Colonial Corp., 276 S.C. 548, 280 S.E.2d 805 (1981)
  • Allendale Furniture Co. v. Carolina Commercial Bank, 284 S.C. 76, 325 S.E.2d 530(1985).
  • Shoney’s, Inc. v. Cooke, 291 S.C. 307, 353 S.E.2d 300 (Ct. App. 1987)
  • Gilstrap v. S.C. Budget & Control Bd., 310 S.C. 210, 423 S.E.2d 101 (1992)
  • Lazerson v. Hilton Head Hosp., 312 S.C. 211, 439 S.E.2d 836 (1994)
  • Chicago Title Ins. Co. v. Resolution Trust Corp., 868 F. Supp. 135 (D.S.C.1994)
  • Midfirst Bank v. C.W. Haynes & Co., 893 F. Supp. 1304 (D.S.C. 1994)
  • First Fed. Sav. Bank v. Stewart Title Guar. Co., 317 S.C. 131, 451 S.E.2d 916 (Ct. App. 1994)
  • TCX, Inc. v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co., 928 F. Supp. 618 (D.S.C. 1995)
  • MI Co. v. McLean, 325 S.C. 616, 482 S.E.2d 597 (Ct. App. 1997)
  • Clinton David, Inc. v. Lawyers Title Ins. Corp., No. 98-1305, 1999 WL 125721 (4th Cir. March 10, 1999)
  • Anton v. General Elec., Co., 2000 WL 1713945 (4th Cir. November 16, 2000).
  • WRB L.P. v. County of Lexington, 369 S.C. 30, 630 S.E.2d 479 (2006)
  • Stearns Bank N.A. v. Glenwood Falls, LP, 373 S.C. 331, 644 S.E. 2d 793 (Ct. App.2007).
  • Stearns Bank Nat’l Ass’n v. Glenwood Falls, LP, 375 S.C. 423, 653 S.E.2d 274, (2007).
    Practice Areas
    Admissions
    • South Carolina Supreme Court, 1964
    • U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, 1964
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, 1965
    • U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1966
    • U.S. Tax Court, 1971
    • U.S. Claims Court, 1990 
    Education
    • University of South Carolina School of Law (L.L.B. 1964)
    • University of South Carolina (B.A. 1962, English)