 In March 2016 Shibatayama and one of his wrestlers, Komatokuni, were ordered by the Tokyo District Court to pay 32.4 million yen (287,500 USD) in compensation to another former wrestler who the court ruled had faced "daily abuse" since joining in 2008 and had to undergo four surgeries for a detached retina, eventually losing sight in the eye in 2013.Shibatayama appealed the ruling, and in November 2016 a court-mediated, confidential settlement was reached.In 2013 his old stable closed when Hanaregoma-"oyakata" reached the mandatory retirement age, and their wrestlers transferred to Shibatayama stable.