Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Washington

Let's assume your interpretation of the contract is correct, that they pawn shop was supposed to hold onto the equipment until Feb 28 before even considering to sell it, since you had 90 days to come up with the repayment so they would release your equipment. If you were to sue them, the most you would get is the $2,000 you already have, which you accepted as a pawn for the goods they held.

Now, maybe you can prove that the goods were worth much more, such as by showing10-20 copies of eBay auctions for the same goods that sold for way more than $2,000, but that will be tough to get past a judge, since I bet the pawn broker is going to say that in his situation, the goods were only worth $2,000, which he factors in when considering all the other hidden costs he has, such as rent, labor, taxes, etc.

You have to consider whether this is worth going after, and ask yourself what your upside is here. You are not going to get the goods back, so money is all you can get, and so far, it looks like you have $2,000. Maybe in your mind, your system, used, was worth $10,000. If so, I would say get proof, and eBay purchases are a great way to demonstrate the fair market value. Not to mention if you sue the pawn broker, you can subpoena his records to see what he ultimately sold your stuff for to help establish market price. That said, if he is a cash and carry business, don't be surprised if his records show a significantly lower price than you can find, and if he does not maintain records on who bought it.