Mr. Tolles has over 30 years of litigation experience representing clients in trial and appellate courts. He represents federal, state and local law enforcement personnel, as well as other governmental officials, sued for civil rights violations. He helped to pioneer the qualified immunity defense, which is unique to these clients. Mr. Tolles has successfully represented hundreds of officers, compiling an unrivaled record of early dismissals through the aggressive use of pretrial motions. He has successfully represented clients in numerous appeals of trial court victories in these cases as well. Mr. Tolles also has extensive experience litigating medical malpractice cases and has represented physicians and hospitals in suits involving surgery, including neurosurgery and plastic surgery, obstetrics, perinatal care, emergency medicine and medical therapies. He has also handled numerous complex personal injury matters. Mr. Tolles previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California, where he handled all aspects of litigation. He also served with the United States Department of Justice Civil Division in Washington, D.C., where he supervised the defense of constitutional tort suits against federal officials nationwide.