We are trying to get items back from a pawn shop that were illegally sold to the pawn shop after being stolen from us.

Without knowing all the facts, no one can say for certain that you will win or that you will lose.  If your actions somehow created the impression that your niece's boyfriend had authority to pawn your goods, or owned the goods being pawned, you could lose.   There's nothing in your question to suggest this, it's just that I don't know all the facts. However, I would not take the pawnshop owner's word that you would have to pay attorneys' fees if you lose.  I am not familiar with Florida law, but I assume that it is similar to NY law.  Under NY law, each party pays its own attorneys' fees unless a statute or contract says otherwise.  I know of no statute (but again I don't know Florida law) which would compel you to pay the other side's attorneys' fees in this case, and, although the pawn contract may provide for attorneys' fees to go to the prevailing party, you are not a party to that contract.  Moreover, even if there were a binding attorneys' fees provision, it would probably have to be mutual, which means that if you won, the other side would have to pay your fees.