In Lichon v. American Universal Ins Co, 435 Mich 408, 417-422, 431-432; 459 NW2d 288 (1990), the Michigan Supreme Court explained at length that, aside from cases in which judicial estoppel apply, a nolo contendere plea cannot be used to prevent a party from litigating an issue merely because it may be factually related to the plea. At the heart of this rule is the purpose behind a nolo contendere plea: to assert to the court in the criminal proceeding that the defendant does not wish to contest the charges without admitting to their truth or claiming that they are false. Id. at 419-422.