I also received a fax (through my lawyer) from INS stating the case was assigned to an officer on November.
Here are my theories:
1. In November INS was in an utterly disorderly state. Their JIT reports were screwed up, prompting many lawyers to sent fax inquiries. INS made a decision based on the WAC number (WAC-01) and just lied blatantly about the case assignment(s).
2. The case was truly assigned on November. After the INS screw up (The Virginia shooting + naturalization of a suspected ter-ro-rist), officers placed all the files back on the "shelf". Now after the computer upgrades and other hooplas, they are back in business.
P.S. Recently IIO told me that an officer picked up my case on Feb 10. I tend to believe IIO this time because she told me the officer's ID number. Also, recent approvals corroborate my last statement.