While not likely, the proposed 'impossibility' of having a higher case temp than an air-cooled cpu temp is entirely possible. It depends on where the case temp is reported from on the motherboard, the air-cooling method (e.g. duct), and the ventilation of the case.
2 simple scenarios where this is possible:
1.The case thermometer is far enough away from a ducted cpu to feel the benefits of the duct and is surrounded by previously warmed air.
2.The case thermometer is located in a section of the case where airflow is highly restricted, due to cabling, fan placement, etc. and the cpu is well ventilated.
But obviously, the odds are that if you case temp is well above your cpu temp, they were reversed in the reporting process.