About Us
Simplifying your world for over 60 years
When James L. Appleby founded Appleby & Company, Inc. in 1958, he was its only employee. Jim built his private investigation firm around a simple idea: do quality work, treat people honestly, and charge a fair price. Three generations later, those principles still guide our work in records retrieval and litigation support for legal and insurance professionals.
By 1965, the company had grown to include several employees and expanded beyond the Central Valley to serve clients throughout California. As the business grew, Jim recognized a need for records reproduction and attorney services in the insurance claims industry. He established a department to handle that work, helping clients get the records and support they needed.
Jim’s son, Steven J. Appleby, joined the company in 1982 and went on to lead it for more than four decades. Steve introduced new computer, video, and scanning technology to help the team work more efficiently and get information into clients’ hands faster.
In 1987, Steve established the Document Management department, providing scanning services, software, and hardware to help businesses and government agencies manage their documents. In 2019, former Appleby employees purchased the department and formed Appleby Imaging. Independently owned, Appleby Imaging remains a close working partner.
Steve’s son, Jon Appleby, became the third generation to join the family business when he started in the mail and delivery room at 18. He worked his way up to Copy Operative and became a private investigator in 2004. His experience in news media and investigations shaped his approach to the work: thorough research, careful fact-finding, and clear communication. He became vice president in 2022 and president in 2025.
Today, Jon carries on the commitment that started with his grandfather: honest work, personal service, and fair prices. After nearly seven decades, we’re proud to remain a family business, helping clients get the information they need to do their jobs.
SSAE 18 Compliance
Appleby undergoes an annual SOC 2 & SOC 3 compliance audit, by an independent auditing firm. These audits verify Appleby’s internal controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy compliance with stringently defined standards. It is just one of many quality assurance measures that continue to make Appleby a premier provider of records reproduction, document solutions and investigative services year after year.
