The three-time European champions have won only two of their eight Top 14 fixtures this season and Patrice Collazo saw the pressure on him mount against his former club.
La Rochelle had Ihaia West to thank for inspiring them to victory, the New Zealander having scored all of their points with a try, conversion and two penalties.
All Toulon could muster in response was a trio of three-pointers from Anthony Belleau, leaving them stuck in the bottom two, with only Perpignan keeping them off the foot of the table.