Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney
R. Waylon Thompson is a founding partner of Manuel & Thompson, P.A. in Panama City, Florida, and is a graduate of Auburn University and Cumberland School of Law/Samford University. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and The Florida Bar. He has an “AV” Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell. His practice areas include personal injury, wrongful death, bad faith, products liability, nursing home liability, insurance disputes, civil litigation, and premises liability. He is admitted to practice in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Northern District and Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Florida Justice Association and has served on its Board of Directors since 2015. He has been an Eagle Member since 1997 and a recipient of the “Wings of Justice Award”, the “Legislative Shoe Leather Award”, and the “Lawyer to Legacy 2015 Bronze Eagle Award.” Mr. Thompson is also a member of the Bay County Bar Association, past President and past member of Board of Directors; and the American Justice Association, member since 1995. In 2017, Mr. Thompson was appointed to the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Northern District of Florida by both Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. He was also appointed Chairman of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel by Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers, United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, in 2018. Since 2015, Mr. Thompson has served on the Board of Directors for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and was presented with the 2017 “Member of the Year” award for outstanding service. He is also a member of the First Baptist Church Panama City, Deacon Chairman 2011 – 2013; Bay Haven Charter Academy, Board of Directors since 2009; Florida Bar Justice Teaching Program, volunteer teacher since 2007; Panama City Rescue Mission, Board of Directors 2007 – 2014; Rotary Club, Downtown Panama City – Paul Harris Fellow Recipient (Rotary Foundation).
Bar Admissions:
- Alabama – admitted 09/28/1989
- Florida – admitted 09/20/1988
- Georgia – admitted 04/04/1996
- Middle District of Florida
- Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Practice Areas:
- Personal Injury.
- Wrongful Death.
- Bad Faith.
- Products Liability.
- Nursing Home Liability.
- Insurance Disputes.
- Civil Litigation.
- Premises Liability.
Prominent Appointments:
- Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Northern District of Florida, appointed by Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson – 2017
- Chairman of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, appointed by Chief Judge Casey M. Rodgers, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida – 2018
- Federal Judicial Advisory Commission for the Northern District of Florida’s 117th Congress, reappointed by Senator Marco Rubio – 2021
Awards:
- FJA EAGLE Awards – “Wings of Justice Award”, “Legislative Shoe Leather Award”, “Lawyer to Legacy 2015 Bronze Eagle Award”
- Bay County Chamber of Commerce – 2017 “Member of the Year” award for outstanding service
Education:
- Auburn University, Bachelors of Arts – 1985
- Cumberland School of Law/Samford University, Juris Doctor – 1988
Certifications:
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar
- “AV” Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell
Community Engagements:
- First Baptist Church Panama City – current member and served as Deacon Chairman from 2011-2013
- Bay Haven Charter Academy – served on the board of Directors since 2009
- Florida Bar Justice Association (FJA) Teaching Program – volunteer teacher since 2007
- Panama City Rescue Mission – served on the Board of Directors from 2007-2014
- Rotary Club, Downtown Panama City – Paul Harris Fellow Recipient (Rotary Foundation)
Memberships:
- Florida Justice Association – served on the Board of Directors since 2015
- FJA EAGLE member since 1997
- Fellow of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Southern Trial Lawyers Association (nominated member)
- Bay County Bar Association – Past President and past member of the Board of Directors
- American Justice Association member since 1995
- Bay County Chamber of Commerce – served on the Board of Directors from 2015-2018
