Law Department

New positionsMid-Atlantic Country Magazine in Greenbelt named Laurin Talley Ensslin associate publisher/advertising director.Spivey Associates, the Baltimore agency of Mutual of New York, a provider of insurance, pension and investment products, named John Little, Kenneth F. DeFelice, Richard B. Teitelman and Robert G. Savoyna members of the agency.Life Insurance Company of Virginia named James F. Calcutt unit manager in Baltimore.First National Bank of Maryland appointed Dennis E. Finnegan vice president and manager of the retail financial sales department of the Treasury and Securities Markets Division.

Baltimore has disbanded its lead-paint abatement demonstration crew and laid off eight workers, citing fears that the city could be sued for improperly de-leading a home in which a child might become lead-poisoned later.Housing Commissioner Robert W. Hearn said in a statement issued yesterday that the city is "taking this step to avoid the possibility of liability actions stemming from abatement operations."The move was criticized by some, including the city's former lead-poisoning prevention coordinator, who questioned the city's commitment to fighting a health hazard that threatens up to 30,000 city youngsters.

An article in Sunday's editions of The Sun incorrectly reported the number of lawyers in the city Law Department. In the 125-member agency, there are 65 attorneys.The Sun regrets the errors.Since Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke took office, the Baltimore law firm headed by Ronald M. Shapiro, the mayor's campaign treasurer and chief fund-raiser, has increased the amount of legal work it does for the city from nearly nothing to at least $399,000 in fees.The fees paid to the law firm of Shapiro and Olander included a retainer for a partner to advise the city on debt matters -- something never done until the Schmoke administration took office.

An assistant Baltimore solicitor took personal leave to represent his boss's wife in a private legal matter during city business hours, according to city records obtained by The Sun yesterday.The assistant, Harry L. Chase, previously refused to authorize release of any payroll records to the newspaper to support his claim that he took a half-day of vacation on Sept. 13 -- the day he represented the wife of City Solicitor Neal M. Janey before the city elections board.But after prodding from Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, Mr. Chase granted permission for the law department to release one payroll document for the hours he worked Sept.