R. Waylon Thompson

R. Waylon Thompson is a founding partner of Manuel & Thompson, P.A. in Panama City, Florida, whose practice focuses on personal injury and civil trial law. Thompson represents clients in wrongful death, bad faith, product liability, nursing home liability, insurance disputes, civil litigation, and premises liability matters. His work centers on helping injured individuals and families pursue claims involving serious harm, unsafe conditions, defective products, and insurance-related disputes.

Thompson earned his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1988 after receiving a B.A. from Auburn University in 1985. He is admitted to practice in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as federal courts including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His legal education and multistate admissions support a broad civil litigation practice involving significant injury, liability, and insurance issues.

Thompson has been board certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1999 and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2001. He has also served as General Counsel for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office since 2019. His professional experience includes leadership in the Florida Justice Association, where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2015, as well as participation in judicial nominating and magistrate judge selection.

R. Waylon Thompson has received an AV Preeminent peer-review rating and several Florida Justice Association honors, including the Wings of Justice Award and Legislative Shoe Leather Award. He is a past president and former board member of the Bay County Bar Association and has maintained longstanding involvement in professional and community organizations. His trial credentials, leadership, and civil litigation background support clients facing serious personal injury and insurance disputes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Manuel & Thompson, PA.
• EAGLE Member, Florida Justice Association
• Fellow, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
• Nominated Member, Southern Trial Lawyers Association
• Past President and Past Member, Bay County Bar Association, Board of Directors
• Member, American Justice Association

Licensed State

• Florida
• Alabama
• Georgia

Education

• Cumberland School of Law/Samford University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Auburn University
  Bachelors of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges