Jerry O. Peavy, Jr., who did not have a bank account of his own, received a draft from CNL Insurance America in the amount of $5,323.60. The draft was drawn on CNL’s account at Bank South, N.A., and was “payable to the order of Jerry Peavy and Trust Company Bank.” Jerry O. Peavy, Sr., allowed his son Peavy, Jr., to deposit the draft in his account at Bank South, N.A. Bank South accepted the draft and deposited it on December 29, 1992, with only the signature of Jerry Peavy, Jr. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peavy, Sr., then wrote checks on the amount of the draft using the full amount to benefit their son.
On March 30, 1993, Bank South realized that it had improperly deposited the draft because it was lacking an indorsement from Trust Company Bank and reversed the transaction by debiting Mr. and Mrs. Peavy’s account for the full amount of the draft. A bank officer then called Mr. and Mrs. Peavy, told them what had happened with the draft, and “threatened to send them to jail if they did not immediately deposit the sum of $5,323.60.” The Peavys deposited that amount from the sale of some stock they owned and then filed suit against Bank South for its conversion of their son’s draft and funds. Do the Peavys have a case? [Peavy v Bank South, 474 SE2d 690 (Ga App)]