Adjuster Charged With Theft Of $722K From Claim Payout

A public adjuster in Delaware County has been charged with insurance fraud and related offenses for allegedly stealing $722,000 from a manufacturer in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia.

Michael Shelly, owner of Zenith Public Adjusters in Broomall, was charged Thursday in connection with the alleged theft of settlement checks for a burst sprinkler pipe at Philly Rubber, Inc., Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced.

Philly Rubber, located on the 4500 block of Tacony Street, suffered extensive water damage to the business’ materials, machinery and work spaces in January 2019. The company contracted Zenith Public Adjusters to negotiate insurance claims.

Shelly inspected the damage at Philly Rubber and met with the business owner on several occasions, providing water remediation services early in the process, prosecutors said.

At some point, Shelly stopped returning phone calls and emails from Philly Rubber, prosecutors said. He allegedly couldn’t be found at his Broomall office, either.