Adoption Couple Ambushed After Oprah

Feb. 2 -- The British couple involved in a trans-Atlantic fight over twins adopted via the Internet paid the price of appearing on an American talk show — after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show, they were served with papers to appear in court.

Alan and Judith Kilshaw of Buckley, Wales, were served by a representative of Richard and Vickie Allen, the California couple contesting the adoption, a lawyer for the Allens said today.

"The Kilshaws had to be served with the legal papers that the Allens had filed," said the Allens' attorney Lynn Lisk on BBC Radio.

"It was either [an] attempt to obtain service on them in Britain or Wales in some way, or when we learned that they would be in the United States we contacted a private processor and made arrangements for them to be served in Chicago."

The lawsuit, according to Lisk, accuses the Welsh couple of abducting the children, taking them to Wales and deceiving U.S. and British authorities.

A Newsworthy Appearance

Thursday's taping of the syndicated talk show was the first time the two couples had confronted each other in person. The show was not broadcast live.

Both couples said they would continue pressing their claims, but the Allens added they must do what was best for the girls, even if they did not get them back.

"We love the girls so much, it's hard to describe," said Richard Allen. But, he said, "the bottom line is we must all get together and do what's best for the girls."

The two couples also both criticized the person they'd gone through to facilitate the now-tangled arrangements.

"We have been through hell the last two weeks in Britain," said Alan Kilshaw. He demanded that Tina Johnson, the adoption broker in question, "explain her actions."

Richard Allen added: "I hope she finds another business because this is not one she's going to be able to operate in for a long time."

Kilshaw further vilified Johnson this morning on an American morning show. "At the end of the day, she's responsible for this problem," he said.