Jim Thorpe Borough has added Paul Hastings to the list of people offering it free legal representation in the battle to keep the town namesake's remains.

Hastings is the attorney who works with University of Pennsylvania Law School (Penn Law) Supreme Court Clinic students, a group also helping the borough at no cost."I have no objections because it's at no cost to the borough," council President Greg Strubinger said.The Sac and Fox Nation and two of Jim Thorpe's sons, Richard and William, have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its argument for the return of the famed Olympian's remains to his native Oklahoma, citing a 1990 federal law.The law orders federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return Native American cultural items and human remains to their respective peoples.U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo in Scranton in April 2013 ruled that the borough was considered a museum under the law's definition because it received federal funds for water and sewer projects.After the borough's appeal, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 23, 2014, overturned the ruling, saying that the laws were meant for museums, which the borough is not.The court ruled that although the arrangement to have Thorpe's body buried in the borough, far from his birthplace, was unusual, it should not be exhumed for reburial just because he was a Native American.According to borough officials, if the Supreme Court hears the case, Hastings would take over for attorney William Schwab, who has represented Jim Thorpe to this point.At the borough council meeting last week, resident Gerry Strubinger lamented the fact that Schwab has billed Jim Thorpe for nearly $27,000 since the legal battle started."He said he was going to do it for free," he said. 'Personally, I think you should let the remains go back to Oklahoma."Greg Strubinger clarified, stating that Schwab offered all legal advice and his time at no cost to the borough, but would bill for supplies, filing fees, transcripts and similar items.The Jim Thorpe Sports Hall of Fame raised $7,820 last year to help offset the expenses.Anne Marie Fitzpatrick, who runs the Jim Thorpe birthday events, raised $950, which was presented to the borough in January 2014.Mayor Michael Sofranko said the borough has also been getting small donations from individuals. One resident recently contributed $300."Every little bit helps," Sofranko said.